dyke

IPA/daɪk/
KK[dˈaɪk]IPA/daɪk/

dyke — 名詞

  • dykesingular
  • dykesplural

1. A long wall or raised bank built at the edge of a river, lake, or the sea to kee

1.名詞B2
釋義

堤防；排水溝

防止洪水淹沒低地的堤防或渠道

A long wall or raised bank built at the edge of a river, lake, or the sea to keep water from flooding low-lying land. The word can also mean a narrow ditch dug to carry water away from land.

例句

James walked along the dyke to see if the storm had damaged it.

James 沿著防洪堤走，查看暴風雨是否對它造成了損壞。

verb: walk along the dyke (checking condition)

The old dyke held back the floodwater and saved the village from disaster.

這座古老的堤防擋住了洪水，拯救了村莊免於災難。

verb: hold back floodwater (preventive function)

常見搭配
  • build a dyke
  • dyke system
  • along the dyke
  • dyke holds back
  • strengthen the dykes
  • dyke protects
同義詞
  • levee

    More common in American English, especially for river embankments in the southern US. Used the same way as 'dyke'.

  • embankment

    A broader term that can include earth banks built for roads or railways, not only water control.

  • floodwall

    Usually made of concrete or steel rather than earth. More common in urban settings.

用法筆記

Frequently used in the plural ('dykes') when referring to a network of drainage channels or flood defences in a region, e.g. 'the dykes of the Netherlands'. The nearby sense 2 ('OFFENSIVE SLUR') is a separate word with the same spelling — context (water, farming, land) always signals this sense.

常見錯誤

The beavers built a dyke across the river.
The beavers built a dam across the river.
A dam blocks the whole river; a dyke runs alongside it to hold back water at the edges.
The dyke broke and water poured over the wall.' (redundant)
The dyke broke and water flooded the fields.
'Wall' is built into the meaning of 'dyke'.

2. An extremely offensive word used to refer to a lesbian. In modern English this t

2.名詞C1
釋義

歧視字眼

對女同志具貶抑、侮辱意味的稱呼

An extremely offensive word used to refer to a lesbian. In modern English this term is a hateful slur and should never be used to describe a person.

例句

Teachers explain that the word 'dyke' is a hateful slur and should never be used.

老師們解釋說，「dyke」這個詞是帶有仇恨的侮辱用語，絕對不應該使用。

metalinguistic use: 'the word "dyke" is…'

The newspaper issued an apology for publishing an article that used the word 'dyke'.

這家報社為刊登了一篇使用「dyke」一詞的文章而公開道歉。

used as a topic of discussion, not as a term of address

常見搭配
  • 'dyke' is a slur
  • called someone a dyke
  • use the word 'dyke'

用法筆記

WARNING: This sense is a slur. It must never be used to refer to a person. The only appropriate contexts are (a) discussing the word itself in a lesson about offensive language, or (b) quoting a historical text where the term appears — and even then, many writers today censor or replace it. Unlike some slurs, this word has very limited in-group reclamation; learners should not attempt to use it under any circumstances. Distinguish from sense 1 ('FLOOD BARRIER'), which is a neutral technical term with a completely different meaning.

常見錯誤

She is a dyke.
She is a lesbian.
'dyke' is a hateful slur; use 'lesbian' as the neutral, respectful term.

常見搭配

名詞搭配

  • dyke system
  • dyke network
  • dyke maintenance

常用片語

  • build a dyke
  • repair the dykes
  • strengthen the dykes

介系詞搭配

  • along the dyke
  • behind the dyke