sever

Word family

sev·er /ˈsevə $ -ər/ verb formal

1 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]CUT to cut through something completely, separating it into two parts, or to become cut in this way 切断，割断 SYN cut off

Martin’s hand was severed in the accident.

马丁的一只手在事故中被切断了。

a severed rope

割断的绳子

2 SEPARATE[transitiveT]STOP something THAT IS HAPPENING to end a relationship with someone, or a connection with something, especially because of a disagreement 与…断绝（关系） SYN break off

sever ties/relations/connections/links etc (with/between somebody)

The two countries severed diplomatic relations.

这两个国家断绝了外交关系。

She had severed all contact with her ex-husband.

她和前夫断绝了一切往来。

In everyday English, people usually say cut off rather than sever: 在日常英语中，人们一般说cut off，而不说sever

The end of his finger had been cut off.

他手指被切断了一截。

The children's father had cut off all contact with them.

父亲和孩子们断绝了一切联系。

Examples from the Corpus

sever• Flesheating monsters and severed body parts dance through the pages as though daring the reader to read on.• Both his legs were severed completely, the right one mid-thigh, the left up at the hip.• Doctors worked to reattach his severed finger.• The price of such knowledge was scars, severed fingers, and burns.• Apparently forensic want to argue that the head was severed from the body after death.• The ruling Kuomintang is desperately in need of reform, including rooting out blatant corruption and severing gangland ties.• A local news agency said gangs paraded several severed heads around the town.• Since the job required that he be politically neutral, he had to sever his links with the Socialist Party.• By this time it was severed just around the corner from Staveley Town South Junction.• High winds severed power lines in many areas last night.• Britain immediately severed relations with the three countries involved.

sever ties/relations/connections/links etc (with/between somebody)• Some 35 members voted to sever ties with the churches.• The Arabs had severed relations with Salomon when it had merged with the commodity traders Phillips Brothers.• The personal touch obviously worked with Mike Greenwell when Duquette was about to sever ties two years ago.• The spokesman said no one called the Kings on Wednesday morning to sever ties with the team.• They planned to start by severing ties with the thrift industry.• Villanova ultimately severed ties with du Pont even after he pumped enormous amounts of money into their wrestling program.

From Longman Business Dictionary

seversev·er /ˈsevə-ər/ verb [transitiveT]COMMERCE

to end a business relationship or connection with someone because of a disagreement

He hassevered all financial ties with his former firm.

A business dispute caused the company and its distributor tosever relations.

Origin sever

(1300-1400) Old French severer, from Latin separare; → SEPARATE2

sev·er verb →REGISTER1

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus