members
members — noun
1. a person, country, or organisation that belongs to a particular group, club, or
a person, country, or organisation that belongs to a particular group, club, or society made up of several similar parts or people.
Amara has been a member of the school choir since she was eight years old.
member of [organisation] — joining a group
Thailand is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
- participant
focuses on taking part in an activity rather than simply belonging
- affiliate
more formal; often used for organisations linked to a larger body
- constituent
formal; describes a part that makes up a whole system
- non-member
someone who does not belong to a particular group
文法句型
member + of + group/organisation
用法筆記
Countable noun; frequently used with the preposition of to state which group the person or thing belongs to. The plural form members is common when referring to everyone in a group collectively.
常見錯誤
2. someone who has formally joined a club, team, or organisation and regularly take
someone who has formally joined a club, team, or organisation and regularly takes part in its activities or pays a subscription.
Diego signed up as a gym member and now goes three times a week.
gym member — membership of a facility
Only paid members of the library can borrow books from the special collection.
- subscriber
someone who pays regularly for a service, e.g. a streaming platform
- cardholder
someone who holds a membership card for a facility or club
文法句型
member + of + club/organisation/team
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense emphasises that the person actively joined and participates, whereas sense 1 is about simply being part of a group (e.g. a member of a family). Often implies a subscription or enrolment process.
常見錯誤
3. a limb or projecting part of the body, especially an arm or leg, considered as a
a limb or projecting part of the body, especially an arm or leg, considered as a distinct part of the whole body.
The old injury left him with limited movement in his lower members for months.
lower members — formal term for legs
In the anatomy lab, students examined the upper members of the human skeleton.
文法句型
member + of + the body
用法筆記
This sense is mainly used in formal, medical, or literary contexts. In everyday speech, arm, leg, or limb are far more common. The plural form members often appears in the set phrases upper members (arms) and lower members (legs).
常見錯誤
4. a polite or indirect word used to refer to the penis, especially in formal, medi
a polite or indirect word used to refer to the penis, especially in formal, medical, or old-fashioned writing.
The medical textbook described the male member as one of the primary reproductive organs.
male member — formal euphemism for penis
In Victorian literature, writers often used the term member as a discreet reference to the male sexual organ.
文法句型
male member
用法筆記
Highly formal or dated; rarely used in modern everyday speech. Current medical terminology uses penis; in general conversation, this sense may cause confusion with other meanings of member. Only use this sense if the context is clearly historical, legal, or very formal medical writing.