nectar

/ˈnektə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnektər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnek-tər/ (ame, mw)

nectar — 名詞

1. the thin, sugary fluid that flowers make deep inside their petals to attract bee

1.名詞C1
釋義

花蜜

花朵分泌、蜜蜂採集的甜汁

the thin, sugary fluid that flowers make deep inside their petals to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which the bees then turn into honey.

例句

Jabari watched a hummingbird hover near the red flowers, sipping nectar from each one.

Jabari 看著一隻蜂鳥停在紅花旁，從每一朵花裡吸取花蜜。

sipping + nectar (verb collocation)

Bees fly from flower to flower, gathering nectar to bring back to the hive.

蜜蜂在花叢間飛來飛去，採集花蜜帶回蜂巢。

gather/collect + nectar (typical verb pattern)

同義詞
  • honeydew

    sticky sugary liquid from aphids, not flowers — different source

用法筆記

Uncountable; refers to the liquid itself, not a drop or a serving. Subject of 'collect / gather / sip / drink' is typically an insect or small bird.

常見錯誤

❌The bee collected three nectars from the garden.
✅The bee collected nectar from several flowers.
💡nectar is uncountable; no plural and no 'a/three nectar'.
❌The flower drinks nectar.
✅Bees drink nectar from the flower.
💡the flower produces nectar; insects drink it.

2. in old Greek and Roman myths, the magical drink that the gods on Mount Olympus d

2.名詞C2
釋義

瓊漿；神酒

希臘羅馬神話中眾神所飲之飲

in old Greek and Roman myths, the magical drink that the gods on Mount Olympus drank to stay young and immortal forever.

例句

In the old myths, only the gods on Mount Olympus were allowed to drink nectar.

在古老神話裡，只有奧林帕斯山上的眾神才能喝瓊漿。

literary register; mythological context

Ryo told the class that Greek heroes who tasted nectar became immortal.

Ryo 告訴全班，凡是嘗過神酒的希臘英雄都變得不死。

taste/drink + nectar (mythological)

同義詞
  • ambrosia

    the food of the gods in the same myths; nectar is the drink, ambrosia is the food

用法筆記

Almost always uncountable and appears in mythological or literary contexts. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is never collected by bees and is paired with 'gods', 'Olympus', 'myth', or 'immortal'.

常見錯誤

❌The bees collected nectar on Mount Olympus.
✅The gods drank nectar on Mount Olympus.
💡mixing the bee sense with the mythology sense; on Olympus only gods are involved.

3. a sweet, thick drink made by crushing fruit such as peaches, mangoes, or apricot

3.名詞C1
釋義

果肉飲料

含果肉的甜味濃稠果汁飲料

a sweet, thick drink made by crushing fruit such as peaches, mangoes, or apricots together with some of the soft inside of the fruit.

例句

Gabriel poured a cold glass of peach nectar for his grandmother on the porch.

Gabriel 在門廊上為奶奶倒了一杯冰涼的桃子果肉飲。

peach/mango/apricot + nectar (typical fruit modifier)

Arjun bought a small bottle of mango nectar from the corner shop after school.

Arjun 放學後在巷口小店買了一小瓶芒果果肉飲。

bottle of + nectar (countable container)

同義詞
  • juice

    thinner; usually no pulp; not necessarily sweetened

  • smoothie

    blended with yoghurt or milk and often other ingredients; nectar is fruit + a little water/sugar only

用法筆記

Modifier almost always names the fruit ('peach nectar', 'mango nectar'). Differs from regular fruit juice because the pulp is kept in the drink, making it thick. Countable when meaning a single bottle or serving ('two peach nectars').

常見錯誤

❌I had a nectar this morning.
✅I had a peach nectar this morning.
💡in this sense the fruit name almost always comes before 'nectar' so the listener knows which drink.