| 释义 |
econ·o·my
I. \ēˈkänəmē, ə̇ˈ-, -mi\ noun
(-es)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: alteration (influenced by such forms as Medieval Latin economus steward, from Late Latin oeconomus, from Greek oikonomos) of earlier yconomie, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin oeconomia, from Greek oikonomia, from oikonomos steward (from oikos house + -nomos manager, from nemein to distribute, manage) + -ia -y — more at vicinity, nimble
1.
a. obsolete : an art of managing a household
b. archaic : the management of the affairs of a group, community, or establishment with a view to insuring its maintenance or productiveness
c. : God's plan or system for the government of the world
< the Incarnation would be no accident in the divine economy — P.E.More >
also : a special divine dispensation suited to the needs of a nation or period
d. : the management of a person's household or private affairs
2.
a. : thrifty or economical use or administration of material resources : frugality in expenditures sometimes verging on parsimony
< the great cathedrals after 1200 show economy, and sometimes worse — Henry Adams >
also : an instance or a means of economizing : saving
< a small economy if achieved at the expense of quality >
b.
(1) : cautious, selective, or partial exposition of facts or principles especially to avoid causing displeasure — used chiefly in the phrase economy of truth
< either suffering from a lapse of memory or practicing an official economy of truth — Times Literary Supplement >
(2) : the efficient and sparing use of nonmaterial resources
< economy of effort >
< economy of motion >
: the reduction to a minimum of the steps or processes required to achieve some end or reach some conclusion (as in logical reasoning); also : the saving achieved thereby
(3) : conciseness in verbal or artistic expression : elimination of all unnecessary details so as to produce the maximum artistic effect
< every device of economy known to musical expression — Virgil Thomson >
< the incidents are treated with dramatic economy — Hector Chevigny >
3.
a. : the system of arrangement or mode of operation or functioning of anything : organization
< the individual's psychic economy >
< the place of the university in the educational economy of the state >
b.
(1) : the natural ordering or system of operation of the processes of anabolism and catabolism in living bodies
< the economy of the cell >
(2) : the body of an animal or plant as an organized whole
< disorganizing wide segments of the body economy — Leonard Engel >
4.
a. : the structure of economic life in a country or area : an economic system
< the economy was rising to new peaks of production and employment — F.B.Wilde >
also : a segment of an economic system
< sweeping changes in our farm economy >
b. : a particular type of economic system or stage of economic development
< a money economy >
< a pastoral economy >
Synonyms: see system
II. adjective
: designed to save money
< economy cars > |