preservatives

IPA/prɪˈzɜː.və.tɪv/
KK[prəzˈɚvətɪvz]IPA/prɪˈzɝː.və.t̬ɪv/

preservatives — noun

  • preservativessingular
  • preservativesesplural

1. a chemical substance that is put onto wood surfaces to stop them from rotting or

1.名詞B2
釋義

a chemical substance that is put onto wood surfaces to stop them from rotting or being damaged by insects

例句

Tomiko applied wood preservatives to the fence posts before the rainy season.

collocation: wood preservatives

Most wood preservatives contain chemicals that protect against termites and fungal growth.

同義詞
  • wood treatment

    a broader term that includes preservatives as well as other protective coatings

  • timber treatment

    more common in British English for the same type of product

文法句型

preservatives + used in/on/for [noun]

用法筆記

Wood preservatives are usually applied with a brush or spray before the wood is exposed to weather. Unlike food preservatives, they are not safe to eat.

常見錯誤

❌I need to buy a preservative for my garden salad.
✅I need to buy a preservative for my wooden deck.
💡wood preservatives are for wood, not food.

2. a chemical substance put into food and drinks to stop them from going bad or los

2.名詞B1
釋義

a chemical substance put into food and drinks to stop them from going bad or losing their flavour over time

例句

Packaged foods like crackers and canned soup often contain preservatives to stay fresh for months.

pattern: contain preservatives

Elena checks food labels carefully to avoid artificial preservatives.

同義詞
  • food additive

    a broader category; all preservatives are food additives, but not all food additives are preservatives

  • chemical additive

    emphasises the synthetic nature; more negative connotation

文法句型

preservatives + in/added to [food/drink]

用法筆記

Frequently used in the plural because several different chemicals are often combined in a product. Common in discussions of food labels and health.

常見錯誤

❌This yogurt contains preservatives to keep the flavour.' (missing context about shelf life).
✅This yogurt contains preservatives to keep it from going bad.
💡preservatives prevent spoilage, not just flavour loss.