downy

IPA/ˈdaʊni/
KK[dˈaʊni]IPA/ˈdaʊni/

downy — 形容詞

  • downypositive
  • downiercomparative
  • downiestsuperlative

1. having a layer of short, extremely light, soft feathers called down, or made fro

1.形容詞B2
釋義

羽絨的

覆有絨羽或填入絨毛的

having a layer of short, extremely light, soft feathers called down, or made from or filled with these feathers — for example, a baby bird still covered in down, a jacket filled with goose down, or a pillow packed with duck down.

例句

The downy ducklings followed their mother across the pond.

那些覆有絨羽的小鴨跟著媽媽游過池塘。

Aoi wrapped her baby in a downy blanket made from goose feathers.

Aoi 用一條鵝絨製成的羽絨毯子把寶寶包了起來。

used for bedding items filled with down

同義詞
  • fluffy

    more general than downy — describes anything light and airy (fur, cotton, cake), not specifically feathers

  • feathery

    suggests the shape or layered appearance of feathers, not necessarily their softness

  • soft

    the most general word; downy is a more specific type of softness that comes from down feathers

反義詞
  • rough

    downy surfaces are smooth and soft; rough is the opposite texture

  • coarse

    downy is fine and delicate; coarse is thick and harsh to the touch

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2 (COVERED WITH SOFT HAIR): sense 1 refers specifically to down — the short, fluffy underfeathers of birds — or objects made from or filled with these feathers. If the surface is covered with fine hair rather than feathers, use sense 2.

常見錯誤

❌The downy towel felt good on my skin.
✅The soft towel felt good on my skin.
💡downy is not a general synonym for 'soft'; it refers specifically to down feathers or a feather-like texture.

2. having a surface of extremely thin, soft hair or light fuzz — typically describi

2.形容詞B2
釋義

細毛的

表面長有細軟絨毛的

having a surface of extremely thin, soft hair or light fuzz — typically describing parts of plants, fruits, or young animals before their adult coat has grown in.

例句

The baby's downy hair felt like silk against Imani's fingers.

Imani 覺得寶寶的細毛摸起來像絲綢一樣滑順。

used for a baby's fine hair

Xiu gently touched the downy leaves of the lamb's ear plant in the garden.

Xiu 在花園裡輕輕摸了摸綿毛水蘇葉子上細軟的絨毛。

botanical use: downy leaves / downy stem

同義詞
  • fuzzy

    describes short, frizzy, or irregular hairs; downy is softer and finer

  • velvety

    suggests a rich, smooth softness like velvet; downy is lighter and less dense

  • hairy

    more general and often suggests longer, more noticeable hairs; downy is specifically short and fine

反義詞
  • smooth

    downy surfaces have fine hairs; smooth surfaces have no texture

  • bald

    downy means covered with fine hair; bald means without hair

用法筆記

Subject is typically a part of a plant, fruit, or young animal's body, describing a very fine, soft covering. Not used for thick or coarse hair. The sense differs from sense 1 in that the covering is made of fine hairs or fuzz, not the specific type of feather called down.

常見錯誤

❌My cat's fur feels downy.
✅My cat's fur feels soft and silky.
💡downy describes very fine, short hairs or fuzz, not the thick fur of a cat or dog.