brownout
/ˈbraʊnaʊt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbraʊnaʊt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbrau̇-ˌnau̇t/ (ame, mw)
brownout — 名詞
- brownoutsingular
- brownoutsplural
1. a period when the amount of electricity supplied to a particular area is lowered
限電；電力不足
因需求過高而降低供電
a period when the amount of electricity supplied to a particular area is lowered, usually because too many people or machines are using power at the same time
During the heatwave, the city experienced several brownouts as air conditioners ran around the clock.
熱浪期間，這座城市發生了多次限電，因為空調二十四小時運轉。
collocation: experience a brownout
The factory installed backup generators to keep production running during frequent brownouts.
那間工廠安裝了備用發電機，以便在頻繁限電期間維持生產。
Unlike a blackout, a brownout leaves the lights dim rather than completely dark.
與全面停電不同，限電只會讓燈光變暗，不會完全熄滅。
The old power grid could not handle peak demand, causing rolling brownouts across the region.
老舊的電網無法應付尖峰用電需求，導致該區域輪流限電。
Residents were asked to turn off unnecessary appliances to help prevent a brownout.
居民被要求關掉不必要的電器，以協助避免限電。
- power cut
implies a complete interruption (blackout), not a reduction
- load shedding
a planned, deliberate brownout to prevent grid failure; more formal and found mainly in South Africa and India
- voltage drop
technical term for the reduced electrical pressure that causes a brownout
- blackout
complete loss of power, not just a reduction
文法句型
brownout + in/at + [location]
experience/suffer + a brownout
用法筆記
Frequently plural (brownouts). A brownout differs from a blackout in that power is reduced but not completely cut off.
常見錯誤
2. a temporary drop in internet speed, or the short-term removal of certain online
網路降速；頻寬限制
因頻寬不足而降低網路速度
a temporary drop in internet speed, or the short-term removal of certain online features, that happens when too many users share limited bandwidth
The streaming service announced a brownout during peak hours to keep the platform from crashing.
串流服務宣布在尖峰時段降速，以免平台當機。
collocation: announce a brownout
Video calls became impossible during the internet brownout, so the office switched to voice messages.
網路降速後視訊通話完全無法進行，辦公室於是改用語音留言。
The online game warned players about a brownout that would reduce graphics quality for an hour.
線上遊戲提醒玩家，將有一小時的降速時段，畫質會降低。
Zoom experienced a brownout when millions of students logged on at the same time for classes.
Zoom 發生頻寬限制，因為數百萬名學生同時登入上課。
- bandwidth throttling
the intentional slowing of internet speed by a provider; more technical than 'brownout'
- service degradation
formal term for reduced performance; broader, not limited to internet
文法句型
brownout + of + [service]
announce/experience + a brownout
用法筆記
The newest of the four senses, found mainly in technology and telecommunications contexts. Commonly paired with 'internet', 'bandwidth', or the name of an online platform.
3. a short period when the amount of energy, enthusiasm, or activity in a person or
精力衰退；停滯
能量或熱情暫時下降
a short period when the amount of energy, enthusiasm, or activity in a person or group drops noticeably below the usual level
After three hours of intense discussion, a brownout of energy hit everyone in the room.
經過三個小時的激烈討論，房間裡每個人的精力都大幅衰退。
pattern: brownout of + energy/enthusiasm/creativity
After twelve hours of back-to-back meetings, the marketing team suffered a brownout and struggled to finish the last presentation.
連續十二場會議之後，行銷團隊精力衰退，連最後一場簡報都很吃力。
collocation: suffer a brownout
Around two in the afternoon, the entire design department experienced a brownout and productivity ground to a halt.
下午兩點左右，整個設計部門經歷了精力衰退，生產力完全停滯。
The night-shift nurses suffered a brownout around four in the morning and relied on caffeine to get through the last hour.
值夜班的護理師凌晨四點左右經歷了精力衰退，靠咖啡才撐過最後一小時。
- surge
a sudden increase in energy or activity
文法句型
brownout + of + [noun]
hit/suffer + a brownout
用法筆記
Figurative extension of the electrical sense. Used with an 'of'-phrase to specify what has dropped (energy, enthusiasm, creativity, motivation, activity). Usually singular.
4. a condition in which brown dust or sand fills the air near the ground and greatl
沙塵霾；塵霧
沙塵導致視線模糊的狀況
a condition in which brown dust or sand fills the air near the ground and greatly reduces how far a person can see, especially affecting pilots trying to land
The helicopter pilot aborted the landing when a brownout suddenly hid the landing zone from view.
直升機駕駛員放棄降落，因為塵霧突然遮住了著陸區。
domain: aviation safety context
Desert regions are prone to brownouts that can turn midday into a dusty twilight.
沙漠地區容易出現沙塵霾，讓正午時分變成灰濛濛的黃昏。
A severe brownout made driving on the dirt road too dangerous, so the convoy stopped.
軍車隊停止前進，因為嚴重的沙塵霾讓在泥土路上開車太危險了。
A brownout near the airstrip forced the cargo plane to circle until the dust settled.
簡易機場附近出現塵霧，迫使貨機盤旋等待灰塵散去。
- sandstorm
a wider weather event with blowing sand across a large area; stronger and more prolonged than a brownout
- dust storm
strong winds carrying dust over a region; larger in scale
- dust haze
a lighter dust condition; less severe than a brownout
文法句型
severe + brownout
brownout + conditions
用法筆記
Most common in aviation and military contexts, where brownout is a well-known hazard for helicopter and light aircraft operations in dry, dusty environments.