swathe
/sweɪð/ (bre, ipa) · [swˈeð] /sweɪð/ (ame, ipa) · [swˈɑð] /ˈswät͟h How to pronounce swathe (audio) ˈswȯt͟h, ˈswāt͟h How to pronounce swathe (audio)/ (ame, mw) · [swˈɑð] /swɑθ/ (ame, ipa)
swathe — noun
- swathesingular
- swathesplural
1. a long, wide area of land that stands out from what surrounds it — for example,
a long, wide area of land that stands out from what surrounds it — for example, a stretch of open grassland through a forest, or a strip of farmland that has been planted with a single crop.
A broad swathe of grassland stretched between the two mountain ranges.
collocation: a broad swathe of [land]
The wildfire left a blackened swathe across the hillside.
The city council built the new road through a swathe of farmland owned by the Watanabe family.
A narrow swathe of sand separated the ocean from the lagoon.
文法句型
a swathe of + land/area
2. a large and varied part of a group, population, industry, or collection of thing
a large and varied part of a group, population, industry, or collection of things, including many different types within it.
A large swathe of the population now shops online for groceries.
collocation: a large swathe of [group]
The new regulations will affect wide swathes of the manufacturing industry.
Omar spent years reading a broad swathe of science fiction novels.
The proposed cuts were rejected by swathes of teachers across the state.
文法句型
swathes of + plural noun
a swathe of + singular noun
用法筆記
Often used in the plural form 'swathes' to emphasise the extent or breadth of something. When used with 'a', the noun that follows is singular; when used without 'a', the plural form takes a plural noun.
常見錯誤
3. a long piece of fabric, especially one that is cut from a larger roll and used f
a long piece of fabric, especially one that is cut from a larger roll and used for wrapping, covering, or bandaging.
Ayesha cut a long swathe of silk from the roll to make the curtains.
collocation: a long swathe of [fabric]
A wide swathe of linen was wrapped around the statue to protect it before the move.
The nurse folded the clean cotton swathe and placed it gently over the wound.
Indra bought several swathes of velvet from the market for her art project.
文法句型
a swathe of + fabric/material
用法筆記
This sense is more common in literary or historical writing than in everyday conversation. In modern medical contexts, 'bandage' or 'dressing' is used instead.
swathe — verb
- swathepresent simple I / you / we / they
- swathes3rd person singular
- swathing-ing form
- swathedpast simple
1. to wrap someone or something closely and completely in layers of fabric, bandage
to wrap someone or something closely and completely in layers of fabric, bandages, or a soft covering material.
The nurse swathed Liam's injured arm in clean white bandages.
pattern: swathe [body part] in [material]
Before painting the room, they swathed the furniture in thick plastic sheets.
The newborn baby was swathed in a soft woollen blanket and placed in the crib.
Gabriel swathed the finished sculpture in damp cloth to keep the clay from drying out.
The mummy was swathed in layers of linen over two thousand years ago.
- unwrap
to remove the wrapping from something
文法句型
swathe + object + in/with + material
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice ('be swathed in') to describe the state of being wrapped. The active form ('swathe someone/something in') is less common but correct. The material is typically introduced by the preposition 'in' or 'with'.