vacuum

/ˈvækjuːm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈvækjuːm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈva-(ˌ)kyüm -kyəm also -kyü-əm/ (ame, mw) · /ˈvæk.juːm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈvæk.juːm/ (ame, ipa)

vacuum — 名詞

  • vacuumsingular
  • vacuumsplural

1. a volume or container in which nearly all air and other gases have been taken ou

1.名詞B2
釋義

真空

幾乎沒有空氣或物質的空間

a volume or container in which nearly all air and other gases have been taken out, so that almost nothing is left inside.

例句

The lab technician created a vacuum inside the glass tube before starting the test.

實驗室技術員在玻璃管內製造真空後才開始測試。

collocation: create a vacuum

Food stays fresh much longer inside a vacuum-sealed bag.

食物放在真空密封袋裡可以保存得更久。

collocation: vacuum-sealed bag

同義詞
  • void

    more poetic or literary; suggests complete nothingness rather than a scientific space

  • emptiness

    focuses on the quality of being empty rather than the physical state

反義詞
  • matter

    the substance that is absent from a vacuum

  • atmosphere

    the air and gases that fill normal space

文法句型

a vacuum

under vacuum

in a vacuum

用法筆記

Countable when referring to a specific enclosed space (e.g., 'a vacuum chamber'). Uncountable when referring to the concept generally (e.g., 'sound does not travel in vacuum').

常見錯誤

❌Vaccume cleaner
✅Vacuum cleaner
💡'vacuum' has two 'u's and one 'c'.
❌In vacuum of space' (missing article).
✅In a vacuum' or 'in the vacuum of space
💡the countable form needs an article.

2. a condition where an important or necessary element is missing, which creates a

2.名詞B2
釋義

空缺；匱乏

重要事物缺失的狀態

a condition where an important or necessary element is missing, which creates a need or chance for it to be supplied.

例句

After the prime minister resigned, a power vacuum led to months of political instability.

總理辭職後，權力真空導致了數月的政治局勢不穩。

collocation: power vacuum

The company felt a creative vacuum after their lead designer moved to a rival firm.

首席設計師跳槽到對手公司後，該公司感受到了創意匱乏。

collocation: creative vacuum

同義詞
  • void

    very similar in meaning; 'void' feels slightly more dramatic or formal

  • gap

    broader and less dramatic; can refer to any missing element

反義詞
  • surplus

    an excess rather than a lack

  • abundance

    plenty of something rather than its absence

文法句型

a vacuum of [something]

power vacuum

leadership vacuum

用法筆記

Typically used in fixed phrases like 'power vacuum', 'leadership vacuum', or 'a vacuum of + abstract noun'. Often refers to political or organisational contexts.

常見錯誤

❌There was a vacuum of water in the bottle.
✅There was a vacuum of leadership after the director left.
💡This sense is metaphorical, not physical.

3. a state of being completely cut off from surrounding people, events, or influenc

3.名詞C1
釋義

孤立

與外界隔絕的狀態

a state of being completely cut off from surrounding people, events, or influences, especially when that separation causes problems.

例句

The committee cannot make this decision in a vacuum — they must listen to what the community thinks.

委員會不能憑空做出這個決定——他們必須聽取社區的意見。

idiom: in a vacuum (isolated from context)

No business operates in a vacuum; every company is affected by the broader economy.

沒有任何企業是在孤立的環境中運作的；每一家公司都受到整體經濟的影響。

同義詞
  • isolation

    direct synonym; 'vacuum' adds a sense of unnatural or problematic separation

  • bubble

    informal; suggests being cut off within a comfortable but limiting environment

反義詞
  • context

    the surrounding circumstances that should inform decisions

  • connection

    the links to other people and events that are absent in a vacuum

文法句型

in a vacuum

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'in a vacuum' as an adverbial modifier. The phrase is nearly always used in negative or cautionary contexts ('can't do X in a vacuum').

常見錯誤

❌She lived in a vacuum after the accident.' (confusing with sense 1 — physical empty space).
✅She felt she was operating in a vacuum, with no one to ask for advice.
💡This sense is about lack of connection, not lack of air.

4. an electrical household appliance that cleans floors, carpets, and upholstery by

4.名詞B1
釋義

吸塵器

用吸力清潔地面的家電

an electrical household appliance that cleans floors, carpets, and upholstery by sucking up dust and dirt.

例句

Lien plugged in the vacuum and cleaned the living room after the party.

Lien 插上吸塵器，在派對後清理了客廳。

collocation: plug in the vacuum

This vacuum has a special filter that traps pet hair and dust mites.

這台吸塵器有特殊濾網，可以捕捉寵物毛髮和塵蟎。

同義詞
  • vacuum cleaner

    the full, formal name for the appliance

  • hoover

    UK informal / trademark genericisation; used as both noun and verb

文法句型

the vacuum

a vacuum

use the vacuum

用法筆記

In British English, 'hoover' (from the brand name) is commonly used as a synonym for both the noun and verb. 'Vacuum cleaner' is the full, formal term.

常見錯誤

❌Vaccum cleaner
✅Vacuum cleaner
💡double 'u', single 'c', double 'm'? No: v-a-c-u-u-m.

vacuum — 動詞

vacuum — 形容詞