beacon

/ˈbiːkən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbiːkən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbē-kən/ (ame, mw)

beacon — 名詞

1. a bright light or a controlled fire put in a high, open spot — for example a hil

1.名詞C1
釋義

信號燈火

在高處顯眼處點燃以警示或指引的火光

a bright light or a controlled fire put in a high, open spot — for example a hilltop, a clifftop, or a tall pole — so people far away can see it and know there is danger or a message to read.

例句

Sailors near the rocks watched for the beacon flashing on the cliff above the harbour.

靠近礁石的水手們，盯著懸崖上方港口邊閃爍的信號燈火。

physical signal warning of danger

Villagers lit a beacon on the hilltop to warn nearby towns that enemy ships had arrived.

村民在山頂點起烽火，警告附近城鎮敵船已經到了。

historical use: lit a beacon on

同義詞
  • signal fire

    older or historical phrasing for the same idea

  • lighthouse

    specifically a tall tower by the sea, while 'beacon' is broader

  • warning light

    neutral term, often electric and small, less dramatic in scale

用法筆記

Often appears with verbs of lighting and seeing: 'light a beacon', 'see a beacon', 'a beacon flashes'. The location is usually named with 'on' (on a hill, on a tower, on the cliff).

常見錯誤

❌They lighted a beacon in the cave to warn the ships.
✅They lit a beacon on the cliff to warn the ships.
💡a beacon must be in a place far-seen from outside, not hidden inside; and the past tense of 'light' here is 'lit'.

2. a small machine that sends out radio waves so pilots, sailors, or rescue teams c

2.名詞C2
釋義

信標；定位器

發送無線電訊號以顯示位置的小型裝置

a small machine that sends out radio waves so pilots, sailors, or rescue teams can work out exactly where the ship, plane, or person carrying it is.

例句

After the crash, the plane's emergency beacon helped rescuers find Fadi within four hours.

墜機之後，飛機上的緊急信標器讓救援人員在四小時內找到 Fadi。

emergency beacon for locating people

Every climber on the team carries a small beacon clipped to the strap of their backpack.

隊上每位登山者都會在背包肩帶上扣一個小型定位器。

personal locator beacon worn on body

同義詞
  • transponder

    more technical; replies to a query rather than broadcasting alone

  • transmitter

    broader term for any device that sends radio waves

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this beacon is electronic and small, often invisible from a distance, while sense 1 is a visible light or fire. Common compounds: 'emergency beacon', 'locator beacon', 'radio beacon'.

常見錯誤

❌The pilot looked up and saw the radio beacon on the mountain.
✅The pilot picked up the radio beacon's signal from the mountain.
💡a radio beacon is heard or detected, not seen with the eyes.

3. a person, place, or idea that other people look toward when they feel lost, beca

3.名詞C2
釋義

希望象徵

讓人心生希望或鼓舞的榜樣或存在

a person, place, or idea that other people look toward when they feel lost, because it shows them that something good — like hope, freedom, or kindness — is still possible.

例句

During the long war, the small library stayed open and became a beacon of hope for the city.

在漫長的戰爭中，那座小圖書館一直開著，成為城裡的希望象徵。

beacon of + abstract noun (hope)

Her grandmother was a beacon of kindness to every neighbour on the street.

她的祖母對街上每位鄰居來說，都是善良的典範。

person as beacon of + virtue

同義詞
  • inspiration

    more general; lacks the 'guiding light from afar' image

  • guiding light

    very close in meaning, slightly more poetic

  • role model

    only for people, and more about behaviour than hope

文法句型

a beacon of N

用法筆記

Almost always in the pattern 'a beacon of [abstract noun]' (hope, freedom, light, kindness) or 'a beacon for [group]'. Strong positive feeling — do not use for neutral or bad examples.

常見錯誤

❌Greedy companies are a beacon of selfishness in the market.
✅Greedy companies are an example of selfishness in the market.
💡'beacon' is reserved for things people admire and follow; do not use it with negative qualities.

beacon — 動詞