defining
defining — 形容詞
1. showing the most important quality of someone or something, so that without it t
決定性的
表現出最重要、最關鍵特質的
showing the most important quality of someone or something, so that without it the person or thing would not be the same
Winning the gold medal was the defining moment of Vinícius's career.
贏得金牌是 Vinícius 職業生涯中決定性的一刻。
defining + moment (the most common collocation)
Honesty is the defining quality that customers value most in our small shop.
誠實是顧客在我們這間小店裡最看重的決定性特質。
defining + quality + of + someone/something
The red walls and tall windows are a defining feature of the old hospital building.
紅色的牆和高大的窗戶是這棟舊醫院建築的決定性特徵。
Asher's kindness toward the new students became the defining trait of the whole class.
Asher 對新同學的善意成為整個班級的決定性特質。
The defining issue of the election was how to lower the cost of housing.
這次選舉中決定性的議題是如何降低住房成本。
- key
much more common in everyday English; 'key' is neutral while 'defining' suggests the quality shapes the whole identity
- essential
means 'absolutely necessary'; close to 'defining' but stresses need rather than character
- characteristic
typical of someone/something but not necessarily the single most important trait
- minor
the opposite of 'defining' in importance — a small or unimportant detail
文法句型
defining + noun (moment, feature, characteristic, quality)
the defining + noun + of + something
用法筆記
Used before a noun and not after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'. Distinguish from sense 2 (the grammar term), which only appears in 'defining clause' or 'defining relative clause'.
常見錯誤
2. describing a clause or pronoun that gives information needed to know exactly whi
限定的
文法上指說明所指對象的子句
describing a clause or pronoun that gives information needed to know exactly which person or thing is being talked about
Lauren explained that 'who lives next door' is a defining relative clause in this sentence.
Lauren 解釋這句話中的「住在隔壁的」是一個限定關係子句。
defining + relative clause (grammar context)
In English grammar, a defining clause is not separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
在英語文法中，限定子句不用逗號和句子其他部分隔開。
a defining clause + grammar rule
Our teacher asked us to underline the defining clause in each sentence on the worksheet.
老師要我們在練習單的每個句子中畫出限定子句。
Hugo wrote on the board that 'that' is often used in defining clauses instead of 'which'.
Hugo 在黑板上寫道，限定子句中常用 that 代替 which。
- restrictive
the American grammar term for the same idea; British grammar books prefer 'defining'
- non-defining
the direct opposite; gives extra information that can be removed without changing the basic meaning
文法句型
defining + relative clause
defining + clause / pronoun
用法筆記
Only used in the grammar phrase 'defining clause' (or 'defining relative clause'). The opposite is a 'non-defining clause', which gives extra information that could be removed. Different from sense 1, which can describe many kinds of nouns.
常見錯誤
defining — 動詞
1. the -ing form of 'define' meaning to say or write what a word or idea means, oft
解釋；定義
說明或寫出某個詞或概念的意思
the -ing form of 'define' meaning to say or write what a word or idea means, often clearly and in your own words
Lien spent the whole evening defining each scientific term for the group project.
Lien 花了整個晚上為小組報告解釋每個科學名詞的意義。
defining + noun (term/word)
The dictionary editors are still defining the new slang words that teenagers use online.
字典編輯仍在為青少年在網路上使用的新俚語下定義。
be + defining + new words (present continuous)
Defining 'freedom' is harder than most students think on their first essay.
在第一份作業裡，要定義「自由」這個詞比大多數學生想的還難。
By defining every legal word, the lawyer made the contract easy for Mei to read.
律師逐一解釋每個法律用語的意義，讓 Mei 容易讀懂合約。
Nikhil kept defining each medical term as a kindness to his elderly patients.
Nikhil 為了體貼年長病人，總是仔細解釋每個醫學名詞的意義。
- explaining
more general; you can explain a word, an idea, or a situation, while 'defining' usually targets a word or term
- describing
broader; 'describing' tells what something is like, while 'defining' tells exactly what it means
文法句型
be defining + noun (a word, a term)
defining + noun + as + something
用法筆記
This is the -ing form of the verb 'define' — used as a present participle (after 'be') or as a gerund (a noun-like form). Subject is usually a person or a reference book; object is usually a word, term, or abstract idea.
常見錯誤
2. the -ing form of 'define' meaning to give something its main quality or to make
形塑特質
賦予人事物主要的性質或身份
the -ing form of 'define' meaning to give something its main quality or to make clear what kind of person or thing it is
Élise believes that her love of music is the part of her defining who she is today.
Élise 相信對音樂的熱愛是形塑她今日特質的重要一部分。
defining + who/what + clause (identity)
Climate change is defining this generation in the same way that war defined earlier ones.
氣候變遷正在形塑這一代人的特質，就像戰爭曾經形塑前幾代一樣。
be + defining + noun (era/generation)
Bilal said that hard training was defining him both as an athlete and as a person.
Bilal 說努力訓練正在形塑他作為運動員和作為一個人的特質。
Small daily choices are defining the kind of friends Obi will become close to.
每天的小選擇正在形塑 Obi 將會親近哪一種朋友。
What is really defining this team is the way they support each other after a loss.
真正形塑這支隊伍特色的，是他們在失敗後互相支持的方式。
- shaping
very close in meaning; 'shaping' stresses gradual change, while 'defining' stresses the main feature that results
- characterising
more formal; British spelling — emphasizes a typical quality rather than identity formation
文法句型
be defining + noun (a generation, an era)
what + be + defining + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually an experience, value, or event; object is often a person, group, or period. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about explaining word meanings.
常見錯誤
3. the -ing form of 'define' meaning to set or show the outer edge or shape of some
劃出輪廓
標出某物的邊界或外形
the -ing form of 'define' meaning to set or show the outer edge or shape of something, so that you can see where it begins and ends
Alessia is defining the garden path with small white stones from the river.
Alessia 正在用從河邊撿來的白色小石頭劃出花園小徑的輪廓。
defining + noun (edge/path) — physical outline
The new fence is defining the border between the two family farms quite clearly.
這道新圍籬正清楚地劃出兩家農場之間的邊界。
be + defining + noun (border/boundary)
Maeve helped her father by defining the corners of the basketball court with bright yellow tape.
Maeve 幫爸爸用亮黃色膠帶劃出籃球場四角的輪廓。
Tall trees are defining the back edge of the school playground from the busy main road.
高大的樹木正將學校遊樂場後方的邊界與繁忙的大路劃分開來。
- blurring
the opposite — making the edge unclear or hard to see
文法句型
defining + noun (boundary, edge, outline)
be + clearly defining + something
用法筆記
Subject is usually a physical object (line, fence, row of trees); object is the area, edge, or boundary being marked. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about giving identity rather than physical limits.
常見錯誤
4. the -ing form of 'define' meaning to set up a new rule, role, or system by decid
制定規則
建立新的規則、角色或制度
the -ing form of 'define' meaning to set up a new rule, role, or system by deciding exactly what it should be
The committee is defining the rules for the school's first robotics contest this spring.
委員會正在為學校今年春天首場機器人比賽制定規則。
be + defining + noun (rules/process)
Before the project starts, our manager is defining each person's role on the team.
計畫開始前，我們的主管正在為團隊每位成員制定各自的角色。
defining + noun (role/responsibility)
Defining clear safety steps is the first job for any new factory worker in this country.
在這個國家，任何工廠新員工的第一項工作就是制定清楚的安全步驟。
The town council is defining how parents can sign up their children for free swimming classes.
鎮議會正在制定家長為孩子報名免費游泳課程的方式。
- setting up
more everyday; 'setting up' is broader, while 'defining' stresses making the details exact
- establishing
more formal; often used in business or legal writing for the same idea
文法句型
defining + noun (a rule, a process, a role)
be defining + noun + for + group
用法筆記
Subject is usually a group, organization, or leader; object is a rule, role, process, or system that did not exist before. Distinguish from sense 1 (explaining word meanings) — here you are building the thing itself.