inflect

/ɪnˈflekt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈflekt/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈflekt/ (ame, mw)

inflect — 動詞

  • inflectpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • inflectshe / she / it
  • inflectedpast simple
  • inflecting-ing form

1. to alter a word's ending or spelling so it shows its grammatical role in a sente

1.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

詞形變化

依語法功能改變單字形態

to alter a word's ending or spelling so it shows its grammatical role in a sentence, such as marking tense, number, or case; or to undergo such a change when used in different grammatical positions.

例句

Folake explained that English nouns usually inflect for plural by adding -s or -es.

Folake 解釋，英文名詞通常透過加上 -s 或 -es 來表示複數的字形變化。

inflect for [grammatical feature]

Latin verbs inflect heavily, taking different endings for person, number, and tense.

拉丁文動詞詞形變化非常豐富，會依人稱、單複數和時態使用不同的字尾。

subject + inflect — intransitive use of a language's words

同義詞
  • conjugate

    specifically for verbs across person, number, tense

  • decline

    specifically for nouns, pronouns, and adjectives across case and number

文法句型

inflect + noun (a word)

[word] + inflects

用法筆記

Subject is usually a word, a part of speech, or a language. Frequently followed by 'for' + the grammatical feature being marked (number, case, tense, person). Distinguish from sense 2 (influence) — this sense is restricted to formal grammar contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher inflected the new students about the rules.
✅The teacher informed the new students about the rules.
💡'inflect' is not a synonym for 'inform' or 'instruct'; it only describes grammatical change of word forms.
❌Chinese nouns inflect for plural.
✅Chinese nouns do not inflect for plural; speakers add a separate word like 們 instead.
💡Chinese is famously a non-inflecting language, so the positive claim is factually wrong.

2. to gently colour or shape something — usually a person's view, tone, or work — b

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

略帶色彩

在風格或語氣中留下淡淡痕跡

to gently colour or shape something — usually a person's view, tone, or work — by leaving a faint trace of an outside influence on it.

例句

Vivek's paintings are subtly inflected by the years he spent in Kyoto studying ink brushwork.

Vivek 的畫作微微透露出他在京都學習水墨技法那幾年的痕跡。

be inflected by — passive showing source of influence

The novelist's later work is inflected with a quiet sadness after her brother's death.

這位小說家弟弟過世之後，後期作品中浮現出一抹淡淡的哀傷。

inflected with [emotion/quality] — passive + 'with' for tone

同義詞
  • tinge

    very close in meaning; even slighter trace

  • colour

    more general; can describe stronger as well as faint influence

文法句型

be inflected by [something]

inflect + noun

用法筆記

Almost always passive ('be inflected by/with'). Distinguish from sense 1 (grammatical change) — this sense is about subtle outside influence, never about word endings. Distinguish from sense 3 (change pitch in speech) — this sense affects content or tone broadly, not a single utterance's intonation.

常見錯誤

❌The film inflected the audience deeply.
✅The film moved the audience deeply.
💡'inflect' suggests a faint trace, not a strong direct effect; use 'influence', 'move', or 'affect' for stronger impact.

3. to raise or lower the pitch of your voice while speaking, often to show a feelin

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

變化語調

說話時上揚或下降聲音高低

to raise or lower the pitch of your voice while speaking, often to show a feeling such as a question, surprise, or warning.

例句

Élise inflected her voice upward at the end so the sentence sounded like a question.

Élise 在句尾把聲音上揚，讓那句話聽起來像個問句。

inflect [one's] voice upward/downward — direction adverb pattern

The actor was trained to inflect his voice so even the back row felt his anger.

這位演員受過訓練，能變化語調，連最後一排觀眾都能感受到他的怒意。

inflect [one's voice] + result clause

同義詞
  • modulate

    more formal; emphasises controlled adjustment across a range

  • intone

    specifically about giving words a particular musical or solemn quality

反義詞
  • monotone

    as a description: 'speak in a monotone' — the opposite of inflecting

文法句型

inflect + one's voice

用法筆記

Object is almost always 'voice', 'tone', or a possessive variant ('her voice', 'his tone'). Distinguish from sense 1 (word morphology) — this sense is about live speech pitch, not written word forms. Common in descriptions of acting, public speaking, and storytelling.

常見錯誤

❌Anna inflected the song beautifully.
✅Anna sang the song beautifully, inflecting her voice to match each character.
💡'inflect' takes 'voice' or 'tone' as its object, not the work being performed.