regions
regions — noun
- regionssingular
- regionsesplural
1. One of the large parts that make up the earth's surface, or an official district
One of the large parts that make up the earth's surface, or an official district created when a country divides itself for administration.
The Amazon region has the largest tropical rainforest on the planet.
collocation: Amazon region / coastal region / northern region
Obi grew up in the northern region of Ghana, near the border with Burkina Faso.
The French government divided the country into thirteen administrative regions.
Snowstorms are common in the mountain regions of Switzerland during winter.
The desert region of northern Chile is one of the driest places on Earth.
用法筆記
Often appears with a directional adjective (northern, southern, coastal, mountain) to specify location. Can also refer to officially drawn boundaries within a country.
常見錯誤
2. An area within a country that people identify by a shared natural characteristic
An area within a country that people identify by a shared natural characteristic, such as a certain type of farming, weather, or local product.
The wine-growing regions of France attract thousands of visitors each autumn.
collocation: wine-growing region / farming region
Rice is the main crop grown in the coastal regions of Vietnam.
Tariq travelled across the spice-producing regions of southern India.
Each region of Spain has its own local dishes and traditional festivals.
The fertile region along the Nile River has supported farming for thousands of years.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense emphasises a shared characteristic (climate, produce, culture) rather than administrative borders. The subject is typically a geographic feature or human activity.
常見錯誤
3. Any section of the body, often one that surrounds a specific organ or anatomical
Any section of the body, often one that surrounds a specific organ or anatomical structure.
The doctor pressed gently on the lower back region to check for pain.
collocation: lower back region / abdominal region
Élise felt a dull ache in the region of her right shoulder after the swim.
After the surgery, the nurse gently examined the abdominal region for signs of infection.
The X-ray showed a small fracture in the pelvic region.
The nurse applied a cold pack to the swollen region around Ayesha's ankle.
用法筆記
Common in medical contexts, often combined with directional modifiers (lower back region, upper abdominal region). Not used for internal organs themselves — it describes the general area around them.
4. Placed before a number or amount to mean 'approximately' — used when the exact f
Placed before a number or amount to mean 'approximately' — used when the exact figure is not known or is not important to state.
Renovating the old school building cost in the region of two million dollars.
fixed phrase: in the region of + amount
Attendance at the music festival was in the region of fifteen thousand people.
The journey from Cairo to Luxor takes in the region of eight hours by bus.
Her annual income is in the region of ninety thousand euros before tax.
The company expects sales in the region of five million units this year.
- approximately
more common and less formal than 'in the region of'
- roughly
informal, commonly used in everyday speech
- around
the most common informal alternative
文法句型
in the region of + number/amount
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in the singular fixed phrase 'in the region of'. More formal than 'about' or 'around'. Common in business reports, news articles, and formal estimates.
常見錯誤
5. A particular field of activity, study, or interest — for example, a branch of sc
A particular field of activity, study, or interest — for example, a branch of science, an academic discipline, or a professional area.
The university created a new department in the region of environmental policy studies.
formal register: in the region of [field]
Dr. Nakamura's pioneering work opened up an entirely new region of research into deep-sea bacteria.
Few scholars write as extensively as Professor Karim in the region of medieval Islamic philosophy.
The ministry allocated additional funding for research in the region of renewable energy storage.
Aiko's doctoral thesis explores a neglected region of 19th-century Japanese economic history.
用法筆記
Typically used with the definite article ('the region of') and formal academic or professional contexts. More common now in older or scholarly writing; 'field' or 'area' is preferred in modern everyday English.