fabric
/ˈfæbrɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfæbrɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfa-brik/ (ame, mw)
fabric — 名詞
- fabricsingular
- fabricsplural
1. A soft material that people turn into clothes, curtains, and covers for furnitur
布料；織物
用於製作衣物、窗簾等的織品
A soft material that people turn into clothes, curtains, and covers for furniture by sewing.
Sora chose a soft cotton fabric for his daughter's summer dress.
Sora 為女兒的夏季洋裝挑選了一塊柔軟的棉質布料。
cotton / wool / silk fabric — common collocations for material type
The sofa was reupholstered with a dark grey wool fabric that felt warm.
那張沙發重新包上了一層深灰色的羊毛織物，摸起來很溫暖。
Liam ran his fingers over the silk fabric, admiring its smooth drape.
Liam 用手指撫過那塊絲綢布料，欣賞它柔順的垂墜感。
Hana bought several metres of striped linen fabric to sew new kitchen curtains.
Hana 買了幾公尺的條紋亞麻布料，打算縫製新的廚房窗簾。
- cloth
A more general term; 'cloth' often suggests a finished piece ready for use, while 'fabric' can include unfinished material.
- material
Broader — can refer to any substance, not just textiles; less specific than 'fabric'.
- textile
More formal or technical; often used in industry contexts ('textile factory', 'textile industry').
文法句型
fabric (uncountable) for general material
a + adjective + fabric (countable) for a specific type
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the material in general ('a roll of fabric', 'made of fabric'). Countable when specifying a particular type or kind ('a lightweight cotton fabric', 'many different fabrics').
常見錯誤
2. The basic framework of a system, organisation, society, or building, formed by t
結構；體系
社會、組織或建築的基本架構
The basic framework of a system, organisation, society, or building, formed by the essential connections that hold it together and allow it to function.
The scandal threatened to tear apart the social fabric of the small fishing village.
那件醜聞幾乎撕裂了這個小漁村的社會結構。
social / moral / political fabric — common adjectival collocates
Mira's research explored how digital communication reshapes the fabric of modern family relationships.
Mira 的研究探討數位通訊如何重塑現代家庭關係的結構。
The earthquake cracked the very fabric of the old building, damaging its stone walls.
地震破壞了那棟老建築的主體結構，導致石牆受損。
Community volunteers worked together to repair the cultural fabric of the town after the flood.
水災過後，社區義工們共同努力修復小鎮的文化結構。
- framework
More concrete — suggests a visible or clearly defined structure; less metaphorical than 'fabric'.
- structure
More general — 'fabric' emphasises the interconnected, woven quality; 'structure' is neutral.
- makeup
More informal — describes what something consists of rather than how its parts connect.
- chaos
The opposite of an ordered, connected structure.
文法句型
the + adjective + fabric of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used with the definite article 'the'. Frequently followed by 'of' plus a noun ('the fabric of society', 'the fabric of the universe'). The adjective 'social', 'moral', 'political', 'cultural', or 'economic' often precedes it. When referring to a physical building, it means the walls, roof, and structural core rather than decorations or furniture.