mass
mass — 動詞
1. When people or things mass, they gather in large numbers so that there are many
聚集；集結
大量的人或物聚集一處
When people or things mass, they gather in large numbers so that there are many of them in one place, or someone brings them together in this way.
Protesters began to mass outside the city hall just before noon.
抗議民眾在中午前開始聚集在市政廳外。
intransitive + at/before location
The general massed his troops along the eastern river before the attack.
將軍在進攻前將部隊集結在河東岸。
transitive: mass + troops + location
Dark clouds massed on the horizon as the storm approached.
暴風雨逼近時，烏雲密集在地平線上。
Reporters massed around the entrance when the celebrity arrived.
那位名人抵達時，記者們聚集在入口周圍。
The company massed its entire workforce in the main hall for the announcement.
公司將全體員工集中在主廳聽取公告。
- gather
more common and less formal; can describe any size group
- assemble
suggests an organized or purposeful coming together
- congregate
specifically of people, often in a public space
- amass
transitive only; usually means to collect things over time rather than people
文法句型
mass + adverb/prepositional phrase
mass + object + adverb/prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Subject is usually a plural noun referring to a group (people, troops, vehicles, clouds). The transitive use (mass + object) appears commonly in military and corporate contexts.
常見錯誤
mass — 名詞
1. any quantity of material that comes together as a single, formless pile or gathe
一大團
無定形的一大堆物質
any quantity of material that comes together as a single, formless pile or gathering with no fixed outline
A dark mass of clouds gathered above the hills before the storm.
暴風雨前，一大團烏雲聚集在山丘上方。
a mass of + noun for a shapeless collection
The volcano sent a hot mass of rock and ash high into the air.
火山把一大團灼熱的岩石和灰燼噴到高空。
Rachid found a sticky mass of old gum stuck under his wooden desk.
Rachid 發現他的木桌底下黏著一大團舊口香糖。
From the airplane, the city looked like a grey mass of buildings and roads.
從飛機上看，這座城市就像一大團灰色的建築和道路。
Indra stirred the flour and water until they formed a sticky mass.
Indra 攪拌麵粉和水，直到它們形成一大團黏稠的物質。
文法句型
a mass of + noun
用法筆記
Often describes natural substances or mixtures whose shape is irregular or changing — clouds, lava, dough, fog.
常見錯誤
2. an impressively big collection or quantity of people, objects, or material, ofte
大量
非常多的人、事物或資訊
an impressively big collection or quantity of people, objects, or material, often seen as overwhelming
The library has a mass of old letters from the nineteenth century.
這間圖書館收藏了大量十九世紀的舊信件。
a mass of + plural noun for a large quantity
Layla received a mass of emails after the company announcement last Monday.
上週一公司宣布消息後，Layla 收到了大量電子郵件。
A mass of tourists filled the main square during the summer festival.
夏季節日期間，大量觀光客擠滿了主廣場。
There was a mass of information to read before the final exam.
期末考前有大量資訊需要閱讀。
The charity collected a mass of clothes and blankets for local families.
這間慈善機構為當地家庭募集了大量的衣物和毛毯。
文法句型
a mass of + plural noun or uncountable noun
用法筆記
Used in the fixed phrase 'a mass of' followed by a plural or uncountable noun. Emphasises that the quantity is strikingly large, not just moderately big.
3. most of the members of a group or the largest part of something when it is divid
大多數
某群體的大部分或多數
most of the members of a group or the largest part of something when it is divided up
The mass of students voted to keep the library open until midnight.
大多數學生投票贊成圖書館開放到午夜。
the mass of + plural noun = the majority
The mass of the population lives in cities along the coast.
大多數人口居住在沿海城市。
Wei found that the mass of his time went toward research, not teaching.
Wei 發現他的時間大部分都花在研究上，而非教學。
The mass of the evidence points to one person as the thief.
大多數證據都指向同一個人是小偷。
In a democracy, the mass of voters decides who will lead the country.
在民主制度中，大多數選民決定誰來領導國家。
- minority
the smaller part of a group
文法句型
the mass of + noun
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2 ('a mass of'), this sense always uses the definite article: 'the mass of.' The verb form after it depends on the following noun: singular noun → singular verb, plural noun → plural verb.
常見錯誤
4. a solid piece of material with an irregular or undefined shape, often formed nat
團塊
無固定形狀的固體塊狀物
a solid piece of material with an irregular or undefined shape, often formed naturally or by accident
The doctor found a small mass in Pedro's lung during the X-ray.
醫生在 X 光檢查中發現 Pedro 的肺部有一個小團塊。
a mass in + body part = abnormal growth
A hard mass of clay sat on the potter's wheel, ready to be shaped.
一團硬黏土放在陶工的轉盤上，準備塑形。
When the metal cooled, it formed a solid dark mass on the factory floor.
金屬冷卻後，在工廠地板上形成了一塊堅實的暗色團塊。
The tree had a strange round mass growing low on its thick trunk.
這棵樹粗壯的樹幹上長著一個奇怪的圓形團塊。
Esteban pulled a sticky mass of melted plastic from the machine.
Esteban 從機器裡拉出一團熔化後黏糊糊的塑膠團塊。
文法句型
a mass of + material noun
a mass in + body part
用法筆記
Common in medical contexts for abnormal growths (tumours, cysts) and in industrial settings for shapeless solid materials left over from a process.
常見錯誤
5. the broad body of ordinary citizens making up most of a society, seen as separat
群眾
社會中佔多數的普通民眾
the broad body of ordinary citizens making up most of a society, seen as separate from the ruling or wealthy classes
The new tax law was designed to help the masses, not just the wealthy.
這項新稅法旨在幫助群眾，而不只是有錢人。
the masses = ordinary people as a social group
Television in the 1950s brought entertainment to the masses for the first time.
1950 年代的電視首次將娛樂帶給廣大群眾。
Cheap smartphones put internet access into the hands of the masses.
平價智慧型手機讓網路使用普及到一般群眾手中。
The museum opened free evening hours to make art accessible to the masses.
這間博物館開放了免費夜間時段，讓群眾也能接觸藝術。
Political leaders often promise big changes, but the masses rarely see real results.
政治人物經常承諾重大改革，但群眾很少看到真正的成果。
- elite
a small, powerful group at the top of society
文法句型
the masses
用法筆記
Always plural in this sense — 'the masses.' Often carries political or sociological overtones, contrasting the general public with elite groups (the wealthy, the powerful, the educated).
常見錯誤
6. a scientific measure of how much matter an object contains, which stays the same
質量
物體所含物質的量（物理學）
a scientific measure of how much matter an object contains, which stays the same regardless of gravity and gives the object its weight on Earth
The mass of a bowling ball is much greater than the mass of a tennis ball.
保齡球的質量遠大於網球的質量。
mass = scientific measure of the amount of matter
Scientists measure the mass of a planet by studying its gravitational pull.
科學家透過研究行星的重力來測量其質量。
In physics class, Caio calculated the mass of a small block of iron.
在物理課上，Caio 計算了一塊小鐵塊的質量。
An object's weight can change in space, but its mass stays the same.
物體的重量在太空中會改變，但它的質量保持不變。
The mass of the sample was determined using an electronic balance.
樣本的質量是使用電子天平測定的。
文法句型
the mass of + object
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, people often say 'weight' when they mean 'mass,' but the two are scientifically distinct: mass is a fixed property of the object, while weight depends on the pull of gravity.
常見錯誤
7. the figure you get when you count all the protons and all the neutrons inside a
質量數
原子核中質子與中子數量總和
the figure you get when you count all the protons and all the neutrons inside a single atom's nucleus; this number is what tells one isotope apart from another.
The atomic mass of carbon-12 is 12, with six protons and six neutrons.
碳-12 的質量數是 12，有六個質子和六個中子。
mass + of + isotope = total particle count
In chemistry class, Bao calculated the atomic mass of each element on the table.
在化學課上，Bao 計算了表格中每種元素的質量數。
An atom's mass changes when it gains or loses neutrons.
原子獲得或失去中子時，其質量數會改變。
To find the mass number, simply add the protons and the neutrons together.
要找出質量數，只要把質子和中子加起來就行了。
Ravindra explained to the class that uranium-235 has a mass of 235.
Ravindra 向全班解釋，鈾-235 的質量數是 235。
- mass number
more precise term in physics for the sum of protons and neutrons
- nucleon number
formal synonym used in nuclear physics; less common in general science
文法句型
mass + of + element
mass + number
用法筆記
Only countable in this sense; often followed by 'of' and the element name or isotope symbol. Commonly used with numbers (e.g., 'mass of 238').
常見錯誤
8. the small difference between the measured mass of an atomic nucleus and the tota
質量虧損
原子核質量與其組成分質量之差
the small difference between the measured mass of an atomic nucleus and the total mass of the individual protons and neutrons that make it up; this lost mass is released as energy that holds the nucleus together.
The mass defect of a helium nucleus is about 0.7% of the total mass.
氦原子核的質量虧損約佔總質量的 0.7%。
mass defect of [nucleus] = percentage of total
Indra learned that the mass defect provides the energy that fuels the sun.
Indra 學到，質量虧損是太陽發光能量的來源。
Scientists find the mass defect by subtracting the nucleus mass from the total of its parts.
科學家從各組成部分的總和中減去原子核質量，來找出質量虧損。
A larger mass defect means more energy is needed to break the nucleus apart.
質量虧損越大，表示要將原子核分裂所需的能量越多。
- binding energy
the energy equivalent of the mass defect; related but not identical
- mass deficit
alternative term used in some textbooks
文法句型
mass defect + of + nucleus
the mass defect + verb (is/converts)
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'of' to specify the nucleus. The concept is central to understanding nuclear binding energy; a larger mass defect corresponds to a more stable nucleus.
常見錯誤
9. the central religious service in the Catholic Church and some other Christian ch
彌撒
天主教等教會的主要宗教儀式
the central religious service in the Catholic Church and some other Christian churches, where people share bread and wine to remember the supper Jesus Christ shared with his twelve close followers the night before he died; also, a piece of music written to accompany this service.
The Garcia family goes to Mass every Sunday at the church near their home.
Garcia 一家每週日都到住家附近的教堂參加彌撒。
go to Mass — fixed phrase for attending
Bach's Mass in B minor is among the most famous works of classical music.
巴哈的 b 小調彌撒是有史以來最著名的古典樂曲之一。
Mass in [key] — musical composition
Father Emre prepared the bread and wine for the Christmas Eve Mass.
Emre 神父親手準備了平安夜彌撒用的餅和酒。
A new choir member sang at Mass for the first time last weekend.
上週末，一名新進的唱詩班成員首次在彌撒中獻唱。
The children lit candles during the morning Mass at the old stone church.
孩子們在古老石造教堂的早間彌撒中點燃了蠟燭。
- Eucharist
formal theological term for the same service; more common in Protestant and academic contexts
- Holy Communion
refers to the part of the service where bread and wine are shared; used in many Christian denominations
- liturgy
the broader set of rituals and prayers, of which the Mass is a specific type
文法句型
go to Mass
attend Mass
Mass + verb
Mass in [key]
用法筆記
Usually capitalized (Mass) when referring to the religious service. Takes no determiner after 'go to' or 'at' ('go to Mass', not 'go to a Mass'). The uncountable use is common for regular attendance; the countable use ('a Mass', 'three Masses') applies to individual ceremonies.
常見錯誤
mass — 形容詞
1. connected with or affecting very many people, or produced in very large amounts.
大規模；大量
涉及大量人群或大量生產的
connected with or affecting very many people, or produced in very large amounts.
Mass unemployment became a serious problem after the factory closed.
工廠關閉後，大規模失業成了嚴重的問題。
collocation: mass unemployment
The government launched a mass vaccination programme across the country.
政府在全國各地推動了大規模疫苗接種計畫。
collocation: mass vaccination / mass programme
Television and social media are the two main forms of mass communication.
電視和社群媒體是兩種主要的大眾傳播形式。
The company switched to mass production to lower the cost of each item.
這家公司改用大量生產的方式來降低每件產品的成本。
Élise watched a news report about mass protests in the capital city.
Élise 看了關於首都大規模抗議活動的新聞報導。
- large-scale
focuses on size/scope of an operation rather than number of people involved
- widespread
emphasises geographic or demographic range rather than production quantity
- extensive
more formal; suggests broad coverage across an area or system
- small-scale
limited in size or number of people involved
- limited
restricted in reach or effect
文法句型
mass + noun (e.g. mass production, mass media)
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun (attributive position). Does not follow verbs such as be, seem, or become — you would not say 'the unemployment is mass'.
常見錯誤
2. considering every member or part of a group as a single unit; viewed or treated
總體；整體
把群體視為一個整體的
considering every member or part of a group as a single unit; viewed or treated as a whole.
The film had mass appeal and attracted viewers of all ages.
這部電影具有大眾吸引力，吸引了各個年齡層的觀眾。
collocation: mass appeal
The mass of data collected by the telescope was too large for one computer.
望遠鏡收集到的整體資料數量太大，一台電腦無法處理。
collocation: mass of data
The festival drew a mass audience from across the island.
這個節慶從全島各地吸引了大量的觀眾。
A mass meeting of shareholders was held to discuss the merger.
為了討論合併案，召開了一場全體股東大會。
Ilan studied the mass effect of tourism on the local housing market.
Ilan 研究了旅遊業對當地房屋市場的整體影響。
- total
more common and less formal; works in many of the same contexts
- aggregate
more formal and technical; common in academic and financial writing
- collective
stresses the group as a whole rather than the sum of separate parts
- individual
focusing on single members rather than the whole group
- partial
covering only a part rather than the entirety
文法句型
mass + noun (e.g. mass audience, mass of data)
用法筆記
Primarily attributive. Often appears with nouns that refer to groups of people (audience, meeting) or to data sets to indicate a collective view rather than individual details.
常見錯誤
mass — 縮寫
1. written abbreviation for the US state of Massachusetts, used in postal addresses
麻州
美國麻薩諸塞州的郵政縮寫
written abbreviation for the US state of Massachusetts, used in postal addresses, on official forms, and in news reports to refer to the state.
Darius sent the package to 42 Elm Street, Boston, MA 02109 last Tuesday.
Darius 上星期二把包裹寄到了波士頓 Elm 街 42 號，MA 02109。
USPS postal abbreviation in full address
Christopher applied to three universities in MA and received offers from two.
Christopher 申請了三所麻州的大學，其中兩所給了他錄取通知。
state abbreviation in educational context
The Watanabe family settled in a small town in western MA near the river.
渡邊一家人定居在麻州西部靠近河邊的一個小鎮。
Valentina checked the weather forecast for MA before packing her suitcase.
Valentina 在打包行李前先查了麻州的天氣預報。
The election results in MA were announced late on Tuesday evening.
麻州的選舉結果在星期二晚間才公布。
- Mass.
traditional written abbreviation with a period, used in formal prose rather than postal addresses
用法筆記
Always written in capital letters. The US Postal Service style uses no periods (MA), while the traditional written form 'Mass.' still appears in formal non-address contexts.