leaf
/liːf/ (bre, ipa) · /liːf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlēf/ (ame, mw)
leaf — 名詞
- leafsingular
- leavesplural
1. A flat, green growth on a plant stem or branch that uses sunlight to produce foo
葉子
植物莖或枝上長出的扁平綠色部分
A flat, green growth on a plant stem or branch that uses sunlight to produce food for the plant.
In autumn, the maple tree in our garden turns red before its leaves fall off.
秋天時，我們花園裡的楓樹在落葉前會轉為鮮紅色。
collocation: leaves fall off
Mizuki picked up a dry leaf from the ground and pressed it into her notebook.
Mizuki 從地上撿起一片乾葉子，壓進她的筆記本裡。
The caterpillar was eating tiny holes through the young leaves of the rose bush.
那隻毛毛蟲在玫瑰叢的嫩葉上啃出一個個小洞。
Each leaf on the fern was shaped like a small, green feather.
蕨類植物上的每一片葉子都長得像一根小小的綠色羽毛。
Imani wiped dust off the large leaves of her rubber plant.
Imani 擦掉她橡膠樹大葉子上的灰塵。
常見錯誤
2. Describes a plant or tree at a time when it is covered with fully grown leaves.
有葉子的
植物長出葉子的狀態
Describes a plant or tree at a time when it is covered with fully grown leaves.
The oak trees in the park are already in leaf by early May.
公園裡的橡樹在五月初就已經長滿了葉子。
idiomatic phrase: in leaf
Hugo knew spring had arrived when the cherry trees along the lane were in leaf.
Hugo 知道春天來了，因為小徑旁的櫻花樹已經長滿了葉子。
Unlike most trees, the cedar stays in leaf even during the coldest months.
與大多數樹木不同，雪松即使在最冷的月份也保持枝葉繁茂。
Faisal prefers deciduous trees because they look so different when they are in leaf.
Faisal 比較喜歡落葉樹，因為它們長葉和落葉時的模樣截然不同。
- leafy
an adjective describing a plant that has many leaves; broader than 'in leaf'
- bare
describes a tree without any leaves, especially in winter
文法句型
be in leaf
用法筆記
This sense only occurs in the fixed phrases 'in leaf' and 'stay in leaf.' It cannot combine with other prepositions — forms like 'on leaf' or 'with leaf' are incorrect.
常見錯誤
3. A phrase describing a plant or tree that is starting to produce new leaves from
長葉
植物開始長出新葉
A phrase describing a plant or tree that is starting to produce new leaves from its branches, commonly happening at the start of spring.
The apple trees in the orchard come into leaf around mid-April every year.
果園裡的蘋果樹每年大約四月中開始長葉。
phrasal pattern: come into leaf
Christopher noticed the willow by the river had come into leaf overnight.
Christopher 注意到河邊的柳樹一夜之間就開始長葉了。
If the weather stays warm, the rose bushes will come into leaf earlier this year.
如果天氣持續溫暖，玫瑰叢今年會提早很多開始長葉。
Noa took a photo of the beech tree every day until it came into leaf.
Noa 每天為那棵山毛櫸拍照，直到它長出葉子為止。
文法句型
come into leaf
用法筆記
This describes a process (beginning to grow leaves), not a completed state. To describe a plant that already has leaves, use 'in leaf' (sense 2) instead.
常見錯誤
4. A single sheet of paper in a book, magazine, or manuscript, with writing or prin
頁；張
書本或雜誌中的一頁紙
A single sheet of paper in a book, magazine, or manuscript, with writing or printing on one or both sides.
A loose leaf had fallen out of the old novel and onto the library floor.
那本舊小說裡掉出一張活頁紙，落在圖書館的地板上。
collocation: loose leaf
The printer copied the report on both sides of each leaf to save paper.
印刷工人把報告印在每一頁紙的兩面以節省紙張。
collocation: both sides of each leaf
Hugo carefully turned each leaf of the manuscript, afraid to tear the fragile paper.
Hugo 小心翼翼地翻動手稿的每一頁，深怕撕破脆弱的紙張。
The first leaf of the book had the title in gold above a sketch.
那本書的第一頁以優雅的金色字體印著書名，上方還有作者的素描。
5. A flat board that forms part of a table's top and may be slid into position or s
活動桌板
桌子可摺疊或加裝以改變大小的活動板
A flat board that forms part of a table's top and may be slid into position or stored underneath, allowing the table surface to be enlarged or reduced.
Andrés pulled out the table leaf so all ten guests could sit together.
Andrés 拉出餐桌的活動桌板，這樣十位賓客才能全部坐在一起。
collocation: pull out the leaf
When not in use, the two table leaves slide under the main surface.
不使用時，兩塊活動桌板可以滑入桌面下方。
mechanical action: slide under
Élise stored the extra leaf behind the dresser in the hallway.
Élise 把備用的活動桌板放在走廊的衣櫥後面。
The antique walnut table has a single leaf that lifts up and locks into place.
這張古董胡桃木桌子有一塊活動桌板，可以向上翻起並固定住。
- extension
a more general term; a table leaf is a type of extension
6. Gold, silver, or another precious metal that has been beaten or pressed into a v
薄片；箔
極薄的金屬片（常用作裝飾）
Gold, silver, or another precious metal that has been beaten or pressed into a very thin, flexible sheet, used as a decorative covering.
The artist applied gold leaf to the picture frame with a soft brush.
藝術家用軟刷將金箔貼到畫框上。
material: gold leaf
The craftsman used silver leaf to decorate the dome of the old temple.
工匠用銀箔裝飾古廟的圓頂。
material: silver leaf
Mayumi bought a small wooden box covered in gold leaf at the artisan market.
Mayumi 在市集買了一個覆滿金箔的小木盒。
The calligrapher added touches of gold leaf to the letters on the wedding invitation.
書法家在婚禮邀請函的文字上加了幾處金箔點綴。
用法筆記
When combined with a metal name, no article is used: 'gold leaf,' 'silver leaf,' not 'a gold leaf.' Can also be used as a compound modifier: 'gold-leaf decoration.'
常見錯誤
leaf — 動詞
- leafpresent simple I / you / we / they
- leafs3rd person singular
- leafing-ing form
- leafedpast simple
1. If a plant or tree leafs, it produces new leaves from its branches or stems, esp
展葉
植物長出新葉
If a plant or tree leafs, it produces new leaves from its branches or stems, especially during spring.
The old oak tree in the garden is leafing earlier than it did last spring.
花園裡那棵老橡樹今年長葉的時間比去年春天早。
progressive form: is leafing
By late March, most of the hedgerows along the lane had started to leaf.
到了三月下旬，小路旁大部分的樹籬都已經開始長葉了。
Emily watched the walnut tree leaf out in the warmth of the spring sunshine.
Emily 看著胡桃樹在和煦的春日陽光下展葉。
The rose bushes leafed quickly after the week of steady rain in April.
經過四月連續一週的降雨，玫瑰叢很快就長出了葉子。
- sprout
can mean producing leaves but more commonly refers to new shoots growing from seeds or stems
文法句型
leaf out
用法筆記
Frequently used in the form 'leaf out' to emphasise the process of leaves unfolding. More common in horticultural and gardening contexts than in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. To turn the pages of a book, magazine, or pile of papers quickly, looking at par
翻閱；瀏覽
快速翻動書頁瀏覽內容
To turn the pages of a book, magazine, or pile of papers quickly, looking at parts without reading every word carefully.
Imani leafed through the fashion magazine while waiting for her train at the station.
Imani 在車站等火車時隨手翻閱時尚雜誌。
phrasal: leaf through [publication]
Christopher leafed through a photo album from his childhood, smiling at the old pictures.
Christopher 翻著童年的相簿，看著老照片微笑。
The student leafed through the textbook trying to find the right chapter before the exam.
那名學生快速翻閱教科書，想在考試前找到正確的章節。
Noa was leafing through a pile of documents when she found the missing contract.
Noa 正在翻閱一疊文件時，發現了那份遺失的合約。
- browse
more general — can refer to looking at items in a shop or online, not just pages
- skim
emphasises reading quickly for the main ideas rather than physical page-turning
- flip through
more common in American English; same meaning
- study
to read something carefully and in detail
文法句型
leaf through [book/document]
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'through' (leaf through a book, magazine, document). The object is the book or publication, not individual pages. The similar verb 'flip through' is more common in American English.