trailer

/ˈtreɪlə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtreɪlər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtrā-lər/ (ame, mw)

trailer — 名詞

  • trailersingular
  • trailersplural

1. a wheeled container that connects to the back of a car or truck, designed to car

1.名詞B1
釋義

拖車

由車輛拖行的載貨車廂

a wheeled container that connects to the back of a car or truck, designed to carry furniture, building supplies, or other heavy loads across town or between cities.

例句

Marta loaded her furniture into the trailer before driving to the new house.

Marta 把傢具裝上拖車,然後開車前往新家。

collocation: load + into + trailer

The construction crew filled the trailer with bricks and bags of cement.

建築工人把磚塊和水泥袋裝滿了拖車。

passive pattern: filled with [materials]

同義詞
  • wagon

    usually has sides and is pulled by a vehicle, but often smaller and open-topped

  • cart

    typically smaller and may be pulled by hand or an animal; less common for heavy machinery

文法句型

trailer + for + noun phrase

用法筆記

When the specific purpose matters, add a modifier: 'utility trailer' for small general loads, 'horse trailer' for animals, or 'flatbed trailer' for oversized items.

常見錯誤

The trailer of the movie was exciting.' (when meaning cargo)
The flatbed trailer carried the steel beams.
💡the cargo sense and the film-preview sense are completely different meanings of 'trailer.'

2. the separate cargo container behind a large truck's cab that can be disconnected

2.名詞B1
釋義

貨廂

大卡車後方獨立的貨物空間

the separate cargo container behind a large truck's cab that can be disconnected for loading and unloading freight over long distances.

例句

The delivery driver opened the back of the trailer to unload the packages.

送貨司機打開貨廂後門準備卸下包裹。

Sade climbed into the trailer and checked that the wooden crates of electronics were stacked safely against the walls.

Sade 爬進貨廂檢查裝有電子產品的木箱是否穩固地靠牆堆疊。

movement verb: climbed into the trailer

同義詞
  • container

    a metal box for shipping goods that can be lifted on and off ships and trains; not attached to a cab

文法句型

the trailer of + noun phrase

用法筆記

In this sense 'trailer' refers only to the cargo box, not the whole truck. The cab that contains the driver is called the 'tractor' or 'cab.'

常見錯誤

The trailer drove past the warehouse.' (entire truck)
The trailer was detached from the cab at the loading dock.
💡the trailer is only the cargo part; the whole vehicle is a 'trailer truck' or 'semi-truck.'

3. a wheeled living space with beds and a kitchen, designed to be pulled behind a v

3.名詞B1
釋義

露營車

可居住的拖行車輛

a wheeled living space with beds and a kitchen, designed to be pulled behind a vehicle and used for holidays, camping trips, or as a temporary home.

例句

The Huang family spent two weeks in a trailer by the beach last summer.

黃家去年夏天在海邊的露營車裡住了兩個星期。

collocation: in a trailer (location)

Élise cooked dinner in the small but tidy kitchen of the rented trailer.

Élise 在租來的露營車的小廚房裡煮了晚餐。

同義詞
  • caravan

    the standard British term for a wheeled holiday home

  • camper

    a smaller vehicle with sleeping space, sometimes built into a van

  • RV

    recreational vehicle; a broader category that includes motorhomes and towable trailers

文法句型

live in a trailer

trailer + park

用法筆記

In British English this is usually called a 'caravan.' In US English a permanently parked mobile home is called a 'manufactured home.'

常見錯誤

We stayed in a caravan park in California.' (British term for US setting)
We stayed in a trailer park in California.
💡'caravan' is British; 'trailer' or 'RV' is used in the US.
The movie trailer had a kitchen.' (confusing senses)
The camping trailer had a kitchen and two beds.
💡distinguish between a mobile home and a film preview.

4. a short video composed of selected scenes from an upcoming film, TV show, or vid

4.名詞B1
釋義

預告片

電影或節目的宣傳短片

a short video composed of selected scenes from an upcoming film, TV show, or video game, released before the full work to attract an audience and build excitement.

例句

The trailer for the new fantasy film made everyone in the cinema excited.

那部新奇幻電影的預告片讓電影院裡的所有人都很興奮。

collocation: trailer for [film]

Nia watched the trailer online three times before the movie came out.

Nia 在電影上映前把預告片在網路上看了三遍。

同義詞
  • preview

    a more general term; can refer to advance screenings or early reviews, not just video clips

  • teaser

    a very short, often cryptic trailer designed to create curiosity without revealing the plot

文法句型

trailer for + noun phrase

trailer of + noun phrase

用法筆記

A 'teaser' is a very short trailer (often 30–60 seconds) that reveals almost nothing about the plot, while a full 'trailer' is longer (2–3 minutes) and shows key story moments.

常見錯誤

I saw the trailer behind the truck.' (film vs cargo)
I saw the trailer for the new superhero film online.
💡context determines which meaning is intended.
The trailer was longer than the actual movie.' (exaggeration)
The trailer was two minutes long, which is about average for big films.
💡trailers are typically 2–3 minutes.

trailer — 動詞