notch
/nɒtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /nɑːtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnäch/ (ame, mw)
notch — 名詞
- notchsingular
- notchesplural
1. a small V-shaped indentation deliberately carved into a firm material such as wo
凹口；刻痕
在硬表面上的V形切口
a small V-shaped indentation deliberately carved into a firm material such as wood or metal, used to anchor a part or keep a tally
Liang carved a small notch into the wooden handle to mark his favourite grip.
Liang 在木柄上刻了一個小凹口，用來標記他最喜歡的握持位置。
carve a notch + into [surface]
Ari used a knife to make a small notch in the stick so the string would not slip.
Ari 用刀在棍子上刻了一個小凹口，這樣繩子就不會滑掉。
make a notch + in [object]
The old archer ran his finger along each notch on the bow before the competition.
那位老弓箭手在比賽前用手指沿著弓上的每個刻痕摸了一遍。
A fresh notch on the door frame showed how much the child had grown.
門框上的一道新刻痕顯示這孩子從去年到現在長高了多少。
- nick
a smaller, accidental cut or chip, not deliberately made like a notch
- groove
a long, narrow channel cut into a surface, often straight rather than V-shaped
- indentation
more general term for any inward curve or hollow, not necessarily V-shaped or deliberate
文法句型
notch + in + [surface]
notch + on + [edge]
用法筆記
Countable noun. Often followed by in (for a surface) or on (for an edge). The same word is also used as a verb — see the verb entry below.
2. a natural V-shaped hollow or indentation on a bone or at the edge of an organ, o
切跡
骨頭或器官邊緣的V形天然凹陷
a natural V-shaped hollow or indentation on a bone or at the edge of an organ, often serving as a passage point for nerves or blood vessels
The doctor pointed at the notch on the patient's hip bone during the X-ray review.
醫生在X光片上指向病人髖骨邊緣的切跡。
notch on a bone — anatomical sense
A small notch near the top of the thigh bone serves as an anchor for a muscle.
大腿骨頂端附近的切跡是主要肌肉的附著點。
The anatomy textbook labelled the V-shaped notch at the upper edge of the shoulder blade.
解剖學課本標示了肩胛骨上緣的V形切跡。
During surgery, Inês found the notch on the jaw where the nerve passes through.
Inês 在手術中找到了下頷骨上神經通過的那個切跡。
- indentation
less specific; any inward curve on a surface, not limited to anatomical structures
- fossa
a broader, bowl-shaped depression in a bone; more specific anatomical term than notch
文法句型
notch + on + [body part]
notch + of + [bone]
用法筆記
Technical anatomical term. Distinguish from sense 1: a body-part notch is a natural feature, not a deliberate cut. Frequently used with the preposition on (not in) — e.g. the notch on the skull, not in the skull.
常見錯誤
3. an imaginary step or point on a scale of quality, ability, amount, or intensity,
等級；檔次
品質或能力量表上的位置
an imaginary step or point on a scale of quality, ability, amount, or intensity, where moving higher means improvement or increase
After six months of practice, Nora's piano playing moved up a notch.
練習六個月之後，Nora 的鋼琴彈奏功力上升了一個檔次。
up a notch — idiomatic collocation for improvement
The hotel was a notch above the others, with marble floors and fresh flowers.
這家飯店比街上其他旅館高一個檔次，有大理石地板和鮮花。
a notch above — comparative pattern
Vivek turned the volume down a notch so his mother could sleep.
Vivek 把音量調低一格，好讓媽媽能入睡。
Sari's performance at the violin competition was several notches better than last year, earning her first prize.
Sari 在小提琴比賽中的表現比去年好上好幾個檔次，贏得了第一名。
The coach told the team they needed to raise their game a notch before the final.
教練告訴球隊，他們必須在決賽前把表現再提升一個檔次。
- level
more general and formal; works in wider contexts (e.g. 'next level', 'level of difficulty')
- rung
metaphor from a ladder; suggests progression in a career or hierarchy
- grade
implies a classification by quality or standard, often used in schools or products
- step
neutral; one stage in a sequence or process
文法句型
up a notch
down a notch
a notch above [something]
notch + comparative
用法筆記
Almost always used in fixed comparative phrases: up a notch (improve), down a notch (reduce), a notch above (superior to), several notches better/worse than (much better/worse). Rarely used alone — 'a notch on the scale' is acceptable but less natural than the set phrases.
常見錯誤
4. a narrow gap or low point between two mountain peaks, forming a path or passage
山隘；峽口
兩座山峰之間的狹窄通道
a narrow gap or low point between two mountain peaks, forming a path or passage through a ridge
The hikers stopped for water at the narrow notch between the two peaks.
登山者在兩座山峰之間的狹窄山隘停下來喝水。
narrow notch between [mountains] — geographic sense
A cold wind blew through the rocky notch that connected the valley to the coast.
一陣冷風吹過那道連接山谷與海岸的岩石峽口。
The old trade route crossed the range through a notch known only to local guides.
古老的貿易路線穿過一條只有當地嚮導才知道的陡峭山隘。
From the notch in the ridge, Elena saw the sunrise over the sea and the valley.
Elena 從山脊上的缺口可以同時看到海上的日出和山谷中的陰影。
文法句型
notch + between + [mountains]
notch + in + [ridge]
用法筆記
Geographic term, less common in everyday speech. Distinguish from 'pass' or 'col' which are wider and more commonly used for named routes through mountains. 'Notch' suggests a particularly narrow, steep-sided opening.
notch — 動詞
- notchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- notches3rd person singular
- notching-ing form
- notchedpast simple
1. to cut a narrow V-shaped mark into a hard surface such as wood, metal, or bone,
刻凹痕
在表面上切割V形缺口
to cut a narrow V-shaped mark into a hard surface such as wood, metal, or bone, usually for a practical purpose like holding something or keeping a record
Christopher notched the end of the stick so the fishing line would stay in place.
Christopher 在棍子的末端刻了一個凹口，這樣釣魚線就不會滑動。
notch + object + purpose clause
The carpenter notched each beam before fitting them together to form the roof frame.
木匠在每根橫樑上刻出凹口，然後把它們拼在一起搭建屋頂骨架。
Élise notched the wooden ruler at every centimetre to mark the measurements clearly.
Élise 在木尺上每隔一公分刻一個凹口，以便清楚標示測量刻度。
Some hunters notched their arrows with a personal pattern so they could tell them apart.
有些獵人會在箭上刻出個人專屬的圖案，這樣就能分辨誰的箭是誰的。
文法句型
notch + [object]
notch + [object] + in/into + [surface]
用法筆記
Frequently followed by a prepositional phrase indicating location (in, into, on). The object of the verb is the thing that receives the notch. Can be used in the passive: 'the beam was notched to fit the joint.'
常見錯誤
2. to keep a count of items, days, or events by cutting a series of V-shaped marks
刻痕記錄
用刻痕方式記錄數量或事件
to keep a count of items, days, or events by cutting a series of V-shaped marks into a surface such as wood or stone
The prisoner notched the wall of his cell every morning to count the passing days.
那名囚犯每天早晨在牢房牆上刻痕，用來計算過去了多少天。
notch + object + to [purpose] — recording sense
Shepherds in the region notched a tall stick for each newborn lamb in the spring.
這個地區的牧羊人過去會為春天出生的每一隻新生羊羔在棍子上刻痕。
Aylin notched the wall each evening to mark another day of training complete.
Aylin 每天晚上在牆上刻一道痕，記錄又完成了一天的訓練。
The old fisherman notched his boat rail for every tuna he caught that season.
老漁夫在他的船緣上刻一道痕，記錄當季釣到的每一條鮪魚。
文法句型
notch + [object] + to + [purpose]
notch + [object] + with + [mark]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense emphasises the record-keeping purpose rather than the physical action. The object is still the surface being cut, but the context always makes the counting or tracking function clear. Often used in past tense describing traditional practices.