continua

continua — 名詞

1. a range or series of things that changes smoothly from one end to the other, wit

1.名詞C1
釋義

連續體

無明確分界的連續序列或範圍

a range or series of things that changes smoothly from one end to the other, without clear breaks or separate categories between the parts — for example, a colour spectrum from red to blue, or a political scale from left to right

例句

Ravindra sees language as a continuum from formal to informal rather than two separate styles.

Ravindra 認為語言是從正式到非正式的連續體，而不是兩種截然不同的風格。

continuum from X to Y — mapping extremes of a range

The health-care continuum covers everything from routine checkups to emergency surgery.

醫療照護連續體涵蓋從例行健檢到急診手術的一切項目。

同義詞
  • spectrum

    emphasises the two ends of a range; more common in everyday use

  • range

    more general term, does not necessarily imply smooth, gradation with no breaks

  • progression

    suggests movement in one direction along the scale

  • sequence

    focuses on order rather than gradual change between items

反義詞
  • discontinuity

    a break or gap in the expected flow; the opposite of continuous change

  • gap

    a missing section that breaks the expected connection

文法句型

the + continuum

a + continuum + of + noun phrase

on/along + a/the + continuum

用法筆記

Usually appears in singular form (continuum). The Latin plural continua is used in academic writing; continuums is also accepted but less common. Common in linguistics, psychology, sociology, and medicine.

常見錯誤

❌The continua of care was interrupted yesterday.
✅The continuum of care was interrupted yesterday.
💡continua is the plural form; use continuum when referring to one range.
❌The government studied several continua of income.
✅The government studied several income continua.
💡when using the plural, place the modifier after continua rather than before.