regeneration

/rɪˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ri-ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən ˌrē-/ (ame, mw)

regeneration — noun

1. the improvement of a city, area, or system so that it becomes more successful an

1.名詞B2
釋義

the improvement of a city, area, or system so that it becomes more successful and attractive, often by building new structures, providing better services, or stimulating economic activity.

例句

The new train station anchors a regeneration plan that will bring new housing, shops, and parks to the whole district.

collocation: regeneration plan

Ignacio's firm won the contract for the waterfront regeneration project in Porto.

collocation: regeneration project

同義詞
  • renewal

    broader term; can apply to buildings, relationships, or energy, not only urban systems

  • revitalisation

    slightly more formal; focuses on bringing energy back to something that was dying

  • redevelopment

    more specific to physical rebuilding of structures rather than broader social or economic change

反義詞
  • decline

    the opposite process — a place or system getting worse over time

  • decay

    suggests gradual falling apart from neglect, often of buildings or infrastructure

文法句型

regeneration + of + [place/system]

urban/economic/city + regeneration

用法筆記

Frequently used with a specific place or system as the object of the preposition 'of' — for example, 'the regeneration of the city centre'. The word is uncountable and takes singular verb agreement.

常見錯誤

❌The regeneration of the economy is going slow.
✅The regeneration of the economy is happening slowly.
💡'regeneration' is a noun; use a verb like 'happen' or 'take place' to describe its progress.
❌We need a regeneration.
✅We need regeneration.
💡do not use 'a' before uncountable nouns like 'regeneration'.

2. the natural process by which a living thing grows back a part that has been lost

2.名詞B2
釋義

the natural process by which a living thing grows back a part that has been lost or damaged, or by which cells and tissues repair themselves.

例句

The lizard's tail grew back through a process of natural regeneration.

collocation: natural regeneration

Scientists are studying nerve regeneration in patients with spinal cord injuries.

collocation: nerve regeneration

同義詞
  • regrowth

    more informal and literal; used especially for hair, nails, and plants

  • healing

    broader term that includes regeneration but also covers wound closure and recovery without new growth

  • recovery

    focuses on return to a healthy state rather than the biological process of regrowth

反義詞
  • degeneration

    the opposite biological process — tissue or cells becoming weaker or less functional

  • atrophy

    wasting away of tissue through lack of use or disease

文法句型

regeneration + of + [body part/tissue/cell]

tissue/cell/nerve/forest + regeneration

用法筆記

Common in medical and biological contexts. Unlike sense 1 (urban improvement), this sense always refers to living organisms. Frequently used as a modifier in compound nouns: 'regeneration therapy', 'regeneration process'.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor told me the regeneration is going well.' (without context)
✅The doctor told me the bone regeneration is going well.
💡specify which tissue or body part regenerating to make the meaning clear.
❌The regeneration of the building took two years.
✅The regeneration of the forest took two years.
💡for buildings and places, use sense 1 (urban regeneration); for living things, use sense 2.

3. a complete renewal of a person's inner life, beliefs, or moral character, especi

3.名詞C1
釋義

a complete renewal of a person's inner life, beliefs, or moral character, especially in a religious or spiritual context.

例句

The preacher spoke about spiritual regeneration and the chance to begin a new life.

collocation: spiritual regeneration

After weeks at a Zen monastery in Kyoto, Kenji experienced a spiritual regeneration that changed how he treated his family.

collocation: spiritual regeneration + result

同義詞
  • rebirth

    more poetic and widely used; carries the same idea of a new beginning but is less technical

  • conversion

    specifically refers to changing from one religion or belief system to another, which is a narrower meaning

  • redemption

    theological term focusing on being saved from sin rather than being made new

反義詞
  • damnation

    in religious contexts, the opposite of spiritual renewal — being condemned rather than saved

  • corruption

    moral decay or loss of spiritual integrity

文法句型

spiritual/moral + regeneration

regeneration + of + [soul/spirit/faith]

用法筆記

Less common in everyday speech than senses 1 and 2. Found more frequently in religious writing, sermons, and philosophical texts. The term 'spiritual regeneration' is particularly associated with Christian theology and some Eastern spiritual traditions.

常見錯誤

❌After the retreat, I felt a spiritual regeneration.' (without context)
✅After the retreat, I felt a sense of spiritual regeneration.
💡'regeneration' is uncountable; do not use 'a' before it.