释义 |
ad·dress I. \əˈdres also aˈd- or ˈaˌd-\ verb (-ed/-ing/-es) Etymology: Middle English adressen, from Middle French adrescer, adresser, from a- (from Latin ad-) + drescer, dresser to straighten, arrange — more at dress transitive verb 1. obsolete a. : to make straight : set in order : arrange < whose stately numbers are so well addressed — Richard Barnfield > b. : to make right : correct, redress < a parliament being called to address many things — John Milton > 2. a. : direct, aim : make straight (as a course) < the enemy of mankind … towards Eve addressed his way — John Milton > b. : to direct to go : send, dispatch < he was addressed first to the Earl — Gilbert Burnet > 3. archaic a. : to make ready : prepare < he did address himself to quit … this mountain land — Lord Byron > b. (1) : to make ready or prepare (as with proper clothing) (2) : clothe, dress c. : to put on : don < I have addressed a frock of heavy mail — Robert Browning > 4. : to direct the efforts or turn the attention of (oneself) < he addressed himself to the remains of his chicken and salad — C.D.Lewis > < the speakers addressed themselves to a common question > : try to apply (oneself or one's powers) < address yourself to the task of behaving better — Aldous Huxley > 5. a. : to direct by way of communication : communicate directly < addressing his thanks to his host > < they addressed to the governor a plea for clemency > b. : to direct the words of (oneself) < addressing himself to the principal, he defended the students' behavior > 6. a. : to speak, write, or otherwise communicate directly to < addressing the chairman, he began his speech > < she addressed the older woman respectfully > b. : to deliver a prepared or formal speech to < he addresses the convention tonight > 7. a. : to write or otherwise mark directions for delivery on : direct < address a letter for mailing > < address a package for delivery by messenger > b. : to consign or entrust to the care of another (as agent or factor) < the ship was addressed to a factor > 8. : to greet directly using a prescribed form either in speech or in writing < many people are uncertain about how to address members of the nobility > 9. : to direct one's attentions to (as in courtship) : court, woo < she is too fine and too conscious of herself to repulse any man who may address her — J.R.Lowell > 10. a. : to take one's stance and adjust the club preparatory to hitting (a golf ball) b. : to stand ready to shoot (an arrow) with the body turned at right angles to the target c. : to bow slightly to (one's square-dancing partner) in preparation for a dance 11. law : to unseat or remove (a judge) as unworthy of office by executive order in accordance with a formal petition from the legislature 12. a. : to put information into (a memory or storage device) b. : to call upon (such a device) for information intransitive verb 1. obsolete : to prepare oneself : set about < let us address to tend on Hector's heels — Shakespeare > 2. obsolete : to direct one's speech or attentions < my lord of Burgundy, we first address toward you — Shakespeare > Synonyms: see direct II. \əˈdres, in sense 7 usually & in other senses often ˈaˌd-; also aˈdres, sometimes (esp in sense 7) ˈadrə̇s\ noun (-es) 1. obsolete a. (1) : the act of preparing or making ready (2) : the state of being prepared b. : something that is prepared; specifically : dress, attire 2. : the quality or state of being ready or skillful : dexterity, adroitness < to bring the thing off as well as Mike has done requires address — Herman Wouk > 3. obsolete : the act or action of addressing oneself or one's words to a person 4. a. : the manner in which one conducts or carries oneself : bearing, deportment < the education and social address of the propertied class — G.B.Shaw > b. : the manner or style of speaking or singing : delivery < a tenor who sang … with a remarkable freedom of voice and ease of address — Douglas Watt > 5. : courteous or dutiful attention especially in courtship — usually used in plural < ladies … to whom all the polite part of the court … paid their addresses — Jonathan Swift > 6. : a formal communication either spoken or written: as a. : a usually formal speech or talk especially as prepared for delivery to a special group < his commencement address was subsequently published > b. : a formal petition especially by a legislative body to an executive or sovereign c. : a formal statement of policy or opinion by a sovereign or president to the people or to a legislative body < an address by the president to Congress > 7. a. : the designation of a place (as a residence or place of business) where a person or organization may be found or communicated with : a part of such a designation < a street address > b. : the directions for delivery given on the outside of an object to be delivered (as a letter or package) c. : the name of the addressee and designation of place of delivery between the heading and the salutation of a business letter — called also inside address 8. : the act of directing or dispatching a ship < the agent at the port being given a commission of address > 9. : direction 11 10. : the stance of the player and the position of the club preparatory to hitting a golf ball 11. : a location (as in the memory of a computer) where particular information is stored; also : the symbols (as digits or letters) that identify such a location Synonyms: see tact |