| 释义 |
well
I. \ˈwel\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English welle, from Old English (northern & Midland dialect) welle; akin to Old High German wella wave, Old Norse vella boiling heat, Old English weallan to bubble, boil — more at well III
1.
a. : an issue of water from the earth : a spring rising to the surface of the earth and forming a pool or rivulet : a pool fed by a spring
< the well flows in a pure and abundant stream from the granite rock — J.M.Jephson & L.A.Reeve >
b. : a spring of water traditionally held to be of miraculous origin or to have supernatural healing or magical powers and often associated with a particular saint
< St. Gulval's Well … was famous for its prophetic properties — W.C.Meller >
c.
(1) : mineral spring
(2) wells plural : a place where mineral springs are located and where invalids often resort : watering place 3, spa — used chiefly in place names
< Tunbridge Wells >
d. chiefly Scotland : a fountain fed by a spring
e.
(1) : something resembling a spring (as in flowing or being used for drinking)
< start the wells of plenty bubbling … with British gold — J.P.Fitzpatrick >
(2) : an origin from which something springs or arises : a source of supply : fountain, wellspring
< the wells of his loquacity were dried up — C.S.Forester >
< the native well of English in our young — J.M.Barzun >
(3) : a dangerous eddy : whirlpool — used especially of eddies near the northern coast of Scotland
2. : a pit or hole sunk (as by digging, boring, or drilling) into the earth to such a depth as to reach a supply of water, generally having a cylindrical form, and often walled with stone, bricks, or tubbing to prevent the earth from caving in
3. : a part of a boat or other craft resembling a well: as
a. : a vertical enclosure in the middle of a ship's hold that reaches from the bottom to the lower deck and that contains and is designed to protect from damage and facilitate the inspection of the pumps — called also pump well
b. : a compartment in the hold of a fishing boat that is tight at the sides but has holes in the bottom to let in water to keep fish alive
c.
(1) : a vertical passage into which a propeller may be drawn up or from which a periscope may be raised
(2) : a hollow compartment recessed in an airplane wing or fuselage into which a unit (as a wing flap or landing gear wheel) retracts
d. : an enclosure in a ship's bottom into which water drains and is then pumped out; especially : the space between two tanks or sections of the double bottom or between either and a bulkhead
e. : a vertical passage in the bow of some old-style monitors in which the anchor is stowed
f. : the part of the main deck between the raised forecastle and the poop of a well-decked ship
4. : a shaft or pit dug or bored in the earth: as
a. : one used for the storage of ice
b. : a shaft or excavation in the earth made in military mining from which run branches or galleries
c. : a shaft or hole sunk to obtain oil, brine, or gas
< an oil well >
< salt wells >
d. : relief well
e.
(1) : a pit or hole in the ground reaching to hardpan or bedrock
(2) : a hollow cylinder of reinforced concrete, steel, timber, or masonry built in such a hole as a support for a bridge or building
f. : a tile stack for drainage
5. : a part of a building or similar structure resembling a well: as
a. : an open space extending vertically through floors of a structure (as a stairwell or elevator shaft)
< a spiral stairway with an open well extending through three stories — American Guide Series: Maryland >
b. : the space in an English law court set off immediately in front of the judge's bench and usually occupied by solicitors
c. : an open shaft formed by surrounding walls and extending vertically through the floors of a structure to provide light and air to interior areas
d. : the place in a lecture hall, legislative chamber, or similar large assembly room where the speaker is located and around which the seats rise in tiers or on a slope : the area between the rostrum or stage and the first row of seats : pit
6. : a heraldic bearing representing the part of the wall of a well aboveground
7. : a vessel or space having a construction or shape that suggests a well for water: as
a. : a space or receptacle resembling a box located in the body of a vehicle and used for luggage
b. : a deep drawer or hollow interior area used as a receptacle in a piece of furniture (as a desk or bureau)
< pine cupboard … having hinged cover over a well — Parke-Bernet Galleries Cat. >
< a well with a compartmented interior >
c. : the lower part of a furnace into which the molten metal runs
d. : a small receptacle in a larger vessel or unit
< the well in a jar of paste >
< the well of a fountain pen >
< this bent pipe had a bowl which retained the objectionable moisture in its well — Irish Digest >
< lubricating oil wells located in a planer bed >
— see inkwell
e.
(1) : an indentation or cavity in a surface
< tree wells >
< cellar window wells >
(2) : one of the tiny depressed spots incised or etched in a gravure plate and holding the ink when the surface of the plate is wiped clean before a sheet is printed
(3) : the dark center of a diamond cut too thick
8.
a. : something resembling a well in being damp, cool, deep, or dark
< a great well of a cupboard >
< make your room a cool well of dusk — Claudia Cassidy >
b. : something resembling a well in constituting a deep vertical hole
< the well in a glacier >
< poked wells in the biscuit to hold the molasses — Eudora Welty >
< a stove well >
c. : something held to resemble a well in constituting a deep reservoir from which one may draw
< a great well of friendship and respect for … the United States — R.M.Nixon >
< the inner well of strength into which the peasant woman … must repeatedly dip — Lucy Crockett >
9.
a. : a pronounced minimum of a variable in physics
< energy well >
< potential well >
b. : a region in which such minimum occurs
10. : stilling basin
11. : fountain I 4
12. : a small leather cup fixed to or suspended from an archer's belt to hold the tips of arrows thrust thereunder
II. verb, adjective
Etymology: Middle English welle, from welle, n.
1. : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a well
< utilized the well principle in construction >
< a well cover >
< well rope >
< well shape >
2. : used in connection with a well
< a well sweep >
< well drill >
3. : designed so as to have a part that is held to resemble a well
< well railroad cars >
< the well type of saddle >
< well slides >
4. : having a wellhole
< a well staircase >
< well stairs >
III. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English wellen, from Old English (northern & Midland dialect) wellan to cause to well; akin to Middle High German wellen to cause to well, Old Norse vella; causative from the root of Old English weallan to bubble, boil, Old High German wallan, Old Norse vella to well over, boil, Latin volvere to roll — more at voluble
intransitive verb
1. : to rise to the surface in a copious stream and then usually flow forth
< a clear small stream … welled from a rock hard by — G.P.R.James >
< tears welled up in her eyes >
< a spring … welled out of the rock into a stone basin — Willa Cather >
2. : to rise to the surface like a flood of liquid : spring up and often pour forth
< anger welled in his stomach like bile — Hugh MacLennan >
— often used with up
< great pity welled up from his generous heart — Rafael Sabatini >
< an immense yearning for security welled up through the land — Oscar Handlin >
transitive verb
: to pour forth from the depths
< some classic fountain … welled its pure waters in a sacred shade — Washington Irving >
IV. adverb
(bet·ter \ˈbed.ə(r), -etə-\ ; best \ˈbest\)
Etymology: Middle English wel, from Old English; akin to Old High German wela, wola well, Old Norse vel, Gothic waila well, Old English wyllan to wish — more at will
1.
a. : in a good or proper manner : in accordance with a high standard of morality : in a way that is morally good : justly, rightly
< it is … doing well that entitles us to heaven — William Burkitt >
b. : satisfactorily with respect to conduct or action
< worked well under difficult conditions >
< the inability … of these children to do well in advanced academic areas — J.B.Conant >
2.
a. : in a manner that constitutes good treatment or confers a benefit : considerately, generously, kindly
< wished them well >
< spoke well of your idea >
b. : in a kindly or friendly manner : with friendly words : with favor or welcome
< was well received at court >
< her first novel was well received by the critics >
3.
a. : with skill or aptitude : in a skillful or expert manner : excellently, expertly
< sing well >
< paints well >
< a wonderful story, well written and sensitive — Peter Blake >
b. : satisfactorily
< plan has worked well >
c. : with good appearance or effect : elegantly
< carried himself well >
4. : with careful or close attention : attentively
< watch well what I do >
5. : to a high point or degree
< they got on well together >
< well deserved the honor >
< she did not seem so well pleased >
< the legendary lore which I love so well — Sir Walter Scott >
< you will be well rewarded by a visit — Dana Burnet >
— often used in combination
< a well-equipped kitchen >
< well-populated areas >
6. : to the full degree or extent : fully, quite
< well aware of the difficulties >
< well worth the price >
< well out of sight >
< well past the appropriate age >
< arrived before dinner had well begun >
< well able to take care of himself >
7.
a. : in a way appropriate to the facts or circumstances : fittingly, properly, rightly
< as the author well says >
< a large box will answer the need almost equally well >
b. : in a prudent manner : sensibly — used with do
< reasonable people … will do well to demand better evidence — M.R.Cohen >
< do well to examine the grounds for this adverse opinion — I.A.Richards >
8. : in accordance with the occasion or circumstances : as a natural result or consequence : with propriety or good reason : naturally, properly
< I cannot well refuse >
< this decision may well be questioned >
< took pride, as well she might, in her hair — Samuel Richardson >
< old residents … speak of it with considerable affection, as well they might — John De Meyer >
9.
a. : in such manner as is desirable or pleasing : as one could wish : without harm or accident : favorably, fortunately, happily, prosperously, successfully
< everything went well that morning >
< piano and violin do not mix too well even in chamber music — P.H.Lang >
b. : with success from a material point of view : advantageously, properly
< he married well >
< he hadn't made a fortune … but he'd done fairly well — Frank Sargeson >
10.
a. : without trouble or difficulty : easily, readily
< nor were the refugees such as a country can well spare — T.B.Macaulay >
< appearing to know more of that abode of evil than she well could — H.S.Scott >
< no transcript can well be found which does not differ from its prototype in some small points — F.H.A.Scrivener >
b. : in all likelihood : indeed
< a basic conflict that may well last for the balance of this century — J.B.Conant >
< maintenance of the high level of expenditures … might well have a disastrous effect — D.W.Mitchell >
11. : in a state of prosperity, plenty, or comfort : in a prosperous or affluent manner
< he lives well >
12. : in a thorough manner : in an extent approaching completeness
< after being well dried with a sponge >
13.
a. : without doubt, uncertainty, or question : clearly, definitely
< well remembered the stirring appeal >
< well knew the penalty >
b. : closely, familiarly, intimately
< must know their own country well — London Calling >
c. : in exact outlines : clearly, definitely
< the tree stood out well against the horizon >
< remembered well the incident he mentioned >
14. : with spirit and courage : bravely, gallantly
< fought well against overwhelming odds >
15. : with equanimity or good nature : without resentment
< reported that he took the disappointment well >
16. : to a considerable extent : more than a little : considerably, far
< grows in hot, moist regions well into the temperate zone — G.S.Brady >
< a population of well over a million people — L.D.Stamp >
< well north of the island — George Bradshaw >
17. : enough, sufficiently — used in giving nautical commands (as concerning hoisting or lowering or bracing yards)
•
- as well
- as well as
V. \“, dial ˈwal\ interjection
Etymology: Middle English wel, from Old English, from wel, adverb
1. — used to express satisfaction with what has been said or done
2.
a. — used to express assent or resignation
b. — used to express surprise and expostulation and often reduplicated
3. — used to indicate resumption of a thread of discourse or to introduce a remark
VI. \ˈwel\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English wel, from wel, adverb
1.
a. : being in good standing or estimation : being on good terms : being in favor
< of great importance to us … to be well with the French government — H.J.Temple >
b. archaic : being on terms of intimacy or familiarity
< all our set were well with some fine woman or other — B.H.Malkin >
c. : pleased or satisfied with oneself
< being extremely well with himself — Agnes Bennett >
2. : being a cause for satisfaction or approval : satisfactory, pleasing
< saw … that all was not well with him — Washington Irving >
< all's well that ends well >
3.
a. : being in a state of affluence or prosperity : well-off
< he must be very well in the world — B.H.Malkin >
— see well-to-do
b. : being in satisfactory condition or circumstances
< he will not change while he is as well where he is >
4. : being in accordance with advantage : deserving to be recommended : advisable, desirable
< it is not well to anger him >
< it might be well for you to review the four basic steps — W.J.Reilly >
— sometimes used with as
< if you stay … it is as well to bring plenty of provisions — G.W.Murray >
5.
a. : being in health : sound in body and mind : free of or recovered from sickness, infirmity, disease, or ailment : healthy
< a well man >
< he looks well >
b.
(1) : cured
< the rheumatism … is now near quite well — Jonathan Swift >
(2) : being in a good or sound condition
< his health … is still pretty well — Oliver Goldsmith >
6. : pleasing or satisfactory in appearance
< looked very well when he was dressed — Ellery Queen >
< the polished floor looks well — Herbert Spencer >
7. archaic : good in quality or character
< it is really very well for a novel — Jane Austen >
8. : being a cause for thankfulness : lucky and gratifying : fortunate
< it is well that this has happened >
Synonyms: see healthy
•
- all very well
- very well
- well and good
VII. \ˈwel\ noun
(plural well)
: a well person : one sound in health — usually used collectively
< prevent the well from becoming infected >
VIII. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English wel, from wel, adverb, well
obsolete : well-being
< restore you to your wonted well — Edmund Spenser >
IX. noun
(-s)
Etymology: well (IV)
chiefly Britain : well enough
< when best to operate and when to leave well alone — Harvey Graham >
< content to let well alone and to maintain … a defensive policy — C.E.Robinson > |