indent
indent — 名詞
- indentsingular
- indentsplural
1. an inward hollow, cut, or blank area found across an object's surface, including
凹痕；縮排
物體表面的凹洞或行首空白
an inward hollow, cut, or blank area found across an object's surface, including the space left empty at the start of a line of writing before the first word begins.
Lucía set a half-inch indent at the beginning of each new paragraph in her school report.
Lucía 在學校報告的每個新段落開頭設定了半英吋的縮排。
indent + of + measurement for text formatting
Nellie noticed a small indent on the kitchen counter where the hot pan had rested.
Nellie 注意到廚房流理臺上有一個小凹痕，是熱鍋放置後留下的。
indent on [surface] — physical dent from heat
The indent in the sofa cushion showed exactly where the family cat liked to sleep every afternoon.
沙發坐墊上的凹痕清楚顯示出家貓每天下午習慣睡覺的位置。
Liang adjusted the indent of the block quotation so it stood apart from the main text of the essay.
Liang 調整了引文的縮排，使其與論文正文區隔開來。
- dent
used only for physical hollows caused by impact or pressure, never for text formatting
- indentation
a longer, slightly more formal alternative that works for both text and physical contexts
- notch
a narrow V-shaped cut along an edge, sharper and more deliberate than a general indent
- recess
a larger hollow space set back from a surface, such as a niche in a wall
- protrusion
a part that sticks outward rather than going inward
文法句型
indent + in/on [surface]
indent + of [measurement]
用法筆記
Covers both text-formatting indents (blank space before a line) and physical dents (hollows on a surface). The context — writing versus objects — tells the reader which meaning applies.
常見錯誤
2. a formal written document sent by an organization to a supplier, asking for a sp
訂購單
正式的商品請購或訂貨文書
a formal written document sent by an organization to a supplier, asking for a specific quantity of goods to be delivered, often across international borders.
Shirin checked that the indent for laboratory chemicals had been approved before the supplier started packing the order.
Shirin 確認實驗室化學藥品的訂購單已獲批准後，供應商才開始備貨。
indent + for + [goods] + approved by [authority]
Dario signed the indent for twelve new office desks and forwarded it to the finance department.
Dario 簽署了十二張新辦公桌的訂購單，然後轉交給財務部門。
sign an indent + for [items]
Before the rainy season, the village council submitted an indent for sandbags and tarpaulins to the regional government.
雨季來臨前，村委會向地方政府提交了沙包和防水帆布的訂購單。
The factory's indent for raw steel was held up because the operations director had not yet reviewed the quantity.
工廠的鋼材訂購單被擱置了，因為營運總監尚未審核數量。
- purchase order
the standard American English term for a formal request to buy goods
- requisition
an internal formal request within an organization, common in military and government contexts
- order
a general term that covers both formal and everyday requests
文法句型
indent + for [goods]
place/submit + an indent
approve an indent
用法筆記
More common in British, Indian, and Commonwealth business English than in American English. In the United States, 'purchase order' or 'requisition' is the standard term. The noun almost always refers to a bulk or formal request, not an everyday purchase.
常見錯誤
indent — 動詞
- indentpresent simple I / you / we / they
- indentshe / she / it
- indentedpast simple
- indenting-ing form
1. to set the opening words of a paragraph or passage in from the main margin, or t
縮排；壓凹
將文字行首留空或使表面凹陷
to set the opening words of a paragraph or passage in from the main margin, or to press a surface inward so that a dip or hollow forms.
Yael always indents the first line of each paragraph when she writes a university assignment.
Yael 寫大學作業時，總是會把每個段落的第一行縮排。
indent + first line + paragraph + in academic writing
A heavy cardboard box had indented the soft lawn near the garden shed after a week of rain.
一場雨下了一週後，花園工具棚旁柔軟的草皮被一個沉重的紙箱壓出了凹痕。
indented by [heavy object] on [soft surface] — physical dent
The word processor automatically indents the first line unless you change the paragraph settings.
文書處理軟體會自動將第一行縮排，除非你變更段落設定。
Indent the long quotation from the left margin so readers can see it is separate from your own writing.
將長引文從左邊界向內縮排，讓讀者知道這是你自己的論述之外的內容。
The mattress was indented on both sides from years of the same two people sleeping in the same spots.
那張床墊兩側都因多年來同一對夫妻睡在相同位置而凹陷。
- protrude
to stick out rather than go inward
文法句型
indent + [text]
indent + [surface/object]
indent from [margin]
用法筆記
The text-formatting meaning is by far the most common use of 'indent' in everyday written English. For the physical-dent meaning, the object is typically a soft or malleable surface such as soil, fabric, cushioning, or soft metal. The text-formatting sense can be used both transitively ('indent the paragraph') and intransitively ('the text indents automatically').
常見錯誤
2. to send a formal written request to a supplier asking for a particular quantity
訂購
正式申請或下單採購貨物
to send a formal written request to a supplier asking for a particular quantity of goods, usually in large amounts or from abroad.
The clinic indented for two thousand doses of flu vaccine before the winter season arrived.
診所在冬季來臨前訂購了兩千劑流感疫苗。
indent + for + quantity + [goods]
The head office indented the replacement engine parts directly from the Japanese manufacturer.
總公司直接向日本製造商訂購了替換引擎零件。
indent + [goods] + directly from [supplier]
The army base indented for enough food supplies to last three months through the central logistics office.
陸軍基地透過中央後勤辦公室訂購了足夠三個月所需的糧食補給。
Anya indented for new laboratory equipment at the start of the financial year, before the old machines broke down.
Anya 在會計年度開始時就訂購了新的實驗室設備，趕在舊機器故障之前。
- order
the general-purpose verb for requesting goods; less formal and far more common across all varieties of English
- requisition
used in military and government contexts for formally requesting supplies
- place an order for
a more explicit phrase that makes the action very clear
文法句型
indent + for [goods]
indent + [goods] + from [supplier]
用法筆記
Primarily found in British, Indian, and Commonwealth English, especially in government, military, and large-organization contexts. In American English, 'order' or 'requisition' is the usual verb. The verb is typically followed by 'for' before the goods when the quantity is stated, but can also take the goods as a direct object.
常見錯誤
3. to cut or form a series of small V-shaped marks or narrow hollows along the edge
刻缺口
在物體邊緣刻出V形缺口
to cut or form a series of small V-shaped marks or narrow hollows along the edge of a piece of material, or along a natural feature such as a coastline.
The artisan indented the edge of the copper sheet with a small chisel to create a decorative border.
工匠用小鑿子在銅板的邊緣刻出缺口，形成裝飾邊框。
indent + [material] + with [tool] for decoration
The coastline was deeply indented with narrow inlets where small fishing boats could take shelter from storms.
這條海岸線因狹窄的海灣而呈現深鋸齒狀，小漁船可以在那裏躲避風暴。
Darius indented the leather strap at regular intervals before punching the holes for the buckle.
Darius 以規律的間隔在皮帶上刻出缺口，然後才打孔安裝皮帶扣。
The ceramicist indented the rim of the clay bowl with the back of a wooden spoon.
陶藝家用木湯匙的背面在陶碗的碗緣壓出缺口紋路。
文法句型
indent + [edge/surface]
indented + with [tool]
indented + at [intervals]
用法筆記
This sense is the least common of the three verb meanings in everyday speech. It appears mainly in descriptions of craft or woodworking techniques and in geographical descriptions of coastlines. The resulting shape is usually a series of sharp, deliberate cuts rather than a single smooth dent.