property
property — noun
1. the things that a person or an organisation owns, especially physical items such
the things that a person or an organisation owns, especially physical items such as money, furniture, clothes, or vehicles that can be moved from one place to another.
When Gita moved abroad, she sold most of her personal property before the flight.
collocation: personal property
The insurance company asked Ryo to list every stolen item of property from his flat.
Tamar keeps valuable property such as passports and jewellery inside a locked safe.
Any lost property found on the train is taken to the station office daily.
- belongings
more personal and informal; usually refers to small items you carry with you
- possessions
nearly identical in meaning; slightly more formal than 'belongings' but less formal than 'property'
- assets
used in business or financial contexts; includes both physical and non-physical items of value
- goods
typically used in commercial or legal settings for items that are bought and sold
- debts
what you owe rather than what you own
文法句型
property + noun (property owner, property tax)
possessive + property
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the general concept of things you own (Her property was damaged in the flood). Countable in the plural form properties only when listing specific items or types of possession (The hotel keeps guests' properties in a secure room).
常見錯誤
2. any structure built on land or any piece of ground that a person or company owns
any structure built on land or any piece of ground that a person or company owns, together with whatever is attached to or standing on that land — for example, a house with its garden or an office block with its parking lot.
Rachid invested his savings in a commercial property near the city centre.
collocation: commercial / residential / industrial property
The estate agent showed Dahlia several properties with three bedrooms and a garden.
Felipe inherited a small property in the countryside from his grandparents.
Property prices in this neighbourhood have risen sharply over the past five years.
- real estate
the standard term in business and legal contexts; 'property' is more general and common in everyday speech
- land
refers only to the ground, not the buildings on it
- premises
a more formal term for a building and its surrounding land, used in legal or business contexts
- estate
a large area of land with a big house, or a collection of properties owned by one person
文法句型
[det] + property (a property / the property / properties)
property + noun (property market, property tax)
adjective + property (commercial / residential / industrial property)
用法筆記
Commonly used with types of use (commercial property, residential property, industrial property). In this sense, property always includes both the land and the buildings on it, not just the building alone.
常見錯誤
3. the power given by law to keep, control, or make use of something, especially la
the power given by law to keep, control, or make use of something, especially land, buildings, or creative work — for example, the power to sell a house or to prevent others from copying your invention.
Chiara retains intellectual property over her software designs for twenty years.
collocation: intellectual property
Under the contract, property of the vehicle passes to the buyer after full payment.
grammar: property of [something] passes / transfers
Countries with strong property rights tend to attract more foreign investment.
Indra consulted a lawyer to establish legal property of the family farm.
- ownership
the more common word for everyday use; 'property' in this sense is more technical and legal
- title
a formal legal term for the right of ownership, especially of land or vehicles
- proprietorship
a formal term for the state of being the owner of a business or asset
- lease
temporary right to use something without owning it
文法句型
property + noun (property rights, property law)
intellectual property
possession/demand/claim of + property
用法筆記
This sense is primarily legal and formal. In everyday conversation, 'ownership' is the more natural word. Use 'property' (this sense) when referring to the legal system of ownership rights, especially in phrases like 'intellectual property' or 'property rights'.
常見錯誤
4. a quality or a set of qualities that a substance, material, or object naturally
a quality or a set of qualities that a substance, material, or object naturally has — for example, the ability of rubber to stretch or the ability of iron to attract a magnet.
Allison studied the chemical properties of salt during her science class today.
collocation: chemical / physical / mechanical properties
One useful property of copper is that it conducts electricity and heat very well.
grammar: property of [material] + clause describing the quality
The engineers tested the physical properties of the new plastic before using it.
Omar discovered that this plant has healing properties when applied to cuts and burns.
- quality
the most general and common word; 'quality' works in everyday contexts while 'property' tends toward technical use
- characteristic
a typical or noticeable feature that helps identify something; slightly more general than 'property'
- attribute
a quality regarded as a natural part of someone or something; used in both scientific and personal contexts
- trait
typically used for living things or personalities, less common for materials
文法句型
[adj] + property (chemical / physical / mechanical properties)
property of [noun]
have / possess / share + property
用法筆記
Most common in scientific and technical writing. In everyday conversation, 'quality' or 'feature' are more natural. When used in medicine or traditional remedies, often in the plural (healing properties, medicinal properties).