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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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first

Word family

first1 /fɜːst $ fɜːrst/ S1 W1 adjectiveadj

1 in a series 系列中FIRST coming before all the other things or people in a series 第一（位）的

Ella was his first girlfriend.

埃拉是他的首任女友。

the first thing/time/day etc

The first time I flew on a plane I was really nervous.

我第一次乘飞机时确实很紧张。

In the first year, all students take five courses.

第一年，所有学生都选五门课程。

He said the first thing that came into his head.

他想到什么就说什么。

the first step towards achieving a peace agreement

达成和平协议的第一步

There’s a meeting on the first Monday of every month.

每月第一个星期一都会开会。

the first two/three/few etc

I only read the first two chapters of the book.

我只读了这本书的前两章。

It rained during the first few days of the trip.

旅行的头几天在下雨。

The first and last mountain I climbed was Mount Rundle (=it was the only mountain I ever climbed).

伦多山是我爬过的第一座山，也是最后一座。

2 for the first time used to say that something has never happened or been done before 初次，第一次

For the first time in his life he felt truly happy.

他这辈子第一次真正地感到幸福。

The survey revealed that, for the first time, there are more women in the workplace than men.

这次调查显示，职场里女性首次多于男性。

Not for the first time she wondered how he coped with so many children.

她不止一次想知道他是如何应付这么多小孩子的。

Examples from the Corpus

Not for the first time• Floating somewhere. Not for the first time.• There was silence at the table. Not for the first time, Kelly felt an unmistakable tug of attraction towards him.• Hadn't she tried to instil morals into the girl? Not for the first time she missed her husband dreadfully.

3 main 主要的MAIN most important 最重要的，首要的

Our first priority is to maintain the standard of work.

我们的首要目标是保持工作的水准。

As I see it, my first responsibility is to my family.

在我看来，我首先要对我的家庭尽责。

4 in the first place

a) used to talk about the beginning of a situation, or the situation before something happened 一开始，起初

Why did you agree to meet her in the first place?

一开始你为什么同意见她？

He wouldn’t have given you the job in the first place if he didn’t think you could do it.

要是他认为你干不了，一开始就不会给你那份工作的。

b) written used to give the first in a list of reasons or points 首先，第一〔用于列举理由或要点〕

Her success was secured by two factors. In the first place, she had the support of managers.

她的成功有两个因素作保证。首先，她得到了经理们的支持。

Examples from the Corpus

in the first place• I should never have gone in the first place!• The better approach, in my opinion, is to eat the right foods in the first place.• These women should never have been sent to prison in the first place.• This assumes that banks have surplus liquidity in the first place.• And there is the question of the relevance of the trading of information in the first place.• He didn't remember being given that form; they had probably not even given it to him in the first place.• That's how the Richardson's got the Parrot in the first place.• In the first place, New York is very cold in the winter, and in the second place I don't want to move anyway.• Well, in the first place, Quinn would never say such a thing.• In the first place, they have a more experienced team, so they're more likely to win.• We robbed them of their land in the first place to reward the Annamese who collaborated with us.• But he came in the first place, to something he knew would be far beyond him.• We haven't made a decision, because, in the first place, we do not know enough at this point.

5 in the first instance formalBEFORE at the start of a situation or series of actions 最初，第一，首先

The appointment of research officer will be for two years in the first instance.

研究员的初始任期为两年。

Enquiries should be made in the first instance to the Human Resources Director.

如需查询，请先与人力资源主管联系。

Examples from the Corpus

in the first instance• We must act to prevent pollution in the first instance.• A limited contract for a few sessions, at least in the first instance, is always preferable.• It was not designed as a dwelling place in the first instance.• It will be screened in the first instance for Tory Party workers throughout Britain.• Making contact with the families in the first instance was the most difficult problem.• Smith regarded this distribution as depending in the first instance on relative bargaining strength.• Soviet forces were not, at least in the first instance, to be withdrawn unconditionally.• The decision should be made in the first instance as if it were easy to be made.

6 at first glance/sight the first time that you look at someone or something, before you notice any details 乍一看，最初看到时

At first glance the twins look identical.

这对双胞胎乍一看一模一样。

At first sight, there didn’t appear to be much damage.

乍看之下损失似乎不太大。

→ love at first sight at love2(2)

Examples from the Corpus

at first glance/sight• It was love at first sight.• This is not as heretical a suggestion as it might seem at first sight.• After months of waiting, it was hardly love at first sight, he admits.• At first glance, it looked like unalloyed good news.• What was inside the cradles at first sight terrified me.• At first glance, the place seemed deserted.• At first glance this will probably sound strange, yet there is a way in which it is also logical.

7. first things first FIRSTused to say that something should be done or dealt with first because it is the most important 重要的事先来，要紧的事先做

Examples from the Corpus

first things first• Okay people, first things first: does everybody have their safety helmets?• Anyway, not to worry, first things first.• He declared that, in this situation, it was a case of first things first.

8 (at) first hand PERSONALLY/YOURSELFif you see, experience, hear etc something at first hand, you see, experience etc it yourself, not through other people 第一手地，直接地

Examples from the Corpus

(at) first hand• Released from prison, Rudd travelled around the country, undertaking surveys and checking information at first hand.• Your letters were very welcome, but I still want to hear everything at first hand.• Eventually divers provided first hand evidence that sea otters use rocks as hammers under water to dislodge the abalones.• Primary data is collected by the researcher at first hand, mainly through surveys, interviews, or participant observation.• Work is developed from first hand sources and observed drawing.• These two boys say nothing to me as they get in, first handing their weapons to their friends.• Students in the program are exposed first hand to college life.• The visit lasted over an hour during which time Neil Kinnock experienced at first hand what carpet manufacturing was all about.• The school deals first hand with all the problems of today's society.

9 first prize/place WINthe prize that is given to the best person or thing in a competition 一等奖/第一名

Examples from the Corpus

first of• There is a first prize of £100 in vouchers and a crystal trophy.• The military alliance is offering a first prize of £130,000, as well as several runner-up prizes worth at least £60,000 each.• From Pentagon, specialists in office supplies, there's a first prize of £2,000-worth of the latest office furniture.• They receive the first prize of £4,000.• For the Sunday the pros would be on their own, battling it out for the first prize of £500,000.• But the first prize of $ 60,000 may have provided a clue.• The first place of any size enroute is Bottighofen.• Staloluokta, our first place of rest, is an oasis of delight.

10 first choice BESTthe thing or person you like best 首选，第一选择

Examples from the Corpus

first choice• Parents choosing schools for their children are rarely given their first choice.• Carbamazepine is the drug of first choice.• Holly again would be my first choice.• Brittany was our first choice as a name for the baby.• Some parents do have the luck to settle on their first choice, as we did.• Atkins was the producers' first choice for the part of the maid.• According to some sources Goh was not Lee's first choice for the succession; at least one other minister reportedly declined the post.• Their first choice is not always available but the week should achieve the aim of broadening their horizons and their experience.• Loose powder is the first choice of makeup artists because it's lighter than pressed and just disappears into your skin.• Twenty-six percent of the students said that teaching was their first choice of occupations.• Because of its superior contrast capabilities magnetic resonance imaging is the current first choice technique for assessing instability of the cervical spine.

11 first thing EARLYas soon as you get up in the morning, or as soon as you start work 早晨一醒来；一上班

Examples from the Corpus

first thing• I'll telephone her first thing, I promise.• The first thing I saw when my eyes blinked into focus was an ant marching over a small stone.• I'll call her first thing in the morning.• Double advanced mathematics first thing in the morning.• What is the last recollection before losing consciousness and the first thing recalled after regaining awareness?• The first things that were provided were pubs and working men's clubs.• The first thing to do is make sure the doors themselves are strong enough.• In this case, the first thing to go was his appetite.• I will go to see Ken Hurren first thing tomorrow morning and tell him that Summerchild was working on defence.• Leave it on my desk and I'll deal with it first thing tomorrow.• Sharon wants that report on her desk first thing tomorrow.

12 at first light literaryEARLY very early in the morning 一大早，天一亮

Examples from the Corpus

at first light• The search continued at first light.• It was black as night at new moon and white as frost at first light.• Mountain rescue teams continued the hunt overnight, and a full-scale search resumed at first light.• The Caribou took off at first light.• They left camp at first light and were in the mountains by nightfall.• A small flock of evening grosbeaks flew over, and at first light I heard chickadees and goldfinches.• The ambush would leave its position the next morning, at first light, to return.• We have had trouble at first light with the Khmer Rouge.

13 make the first move FIRSTto be the person who starts to do something when someone else is too nervous, embarrassed etc to do it 〔在别人紧张、尴尬等时〕首先采取行动，率先挺身而出

Examples from the Corpus

make the first move• Everybody's waiting for the other person to make the first move.• Those weeks, not seeing him, wondering, too proud to make the first move.• We suggest you make the first move.• We were both trembling with desire, afraid to make the first move.• I'd always been attracted to her, but I was too shy to make the first move.• And in the matter of seduction itself, once more it is the male who is expected to make the first move.• And now Cambridge United, who recently sacked controversial manager John Beck, have made the first move.• He had decided to do nothing further for the present and leave it to Berowne to make the first move.• If they have upset you, perhaps they are hoping you will make the first move.• She was damned if she was going to make the first move.• Neither side is willing to make the first move in the trade talks.• The employees made the first move to end the strike.

14 not have the first idea about something (also not know/understand the first thing about something)NOT KNOW to not know anything about a subject, or not know how to do something 对某事一窍不通[一无所知]

15 the first flush of something the beginning of a good period of time when you are young, successful etc 某事物[某人]的初期强盛阶段

Examples from the Corpus

the first flush of something• Why had he and Zoe, in the first flush of affluence, decided the desirable residence was truly desirable?• Pick off just the first flush of flowers from the ever-bearing kinds.• In the first flush of glasnost much information was made available and deputies often asserted themselves aggressively.• They are still in the first flush of lust and romance, when everything your partner does is absolutely bloody marvellous.• Could any one house be sufficiently interesting to fulfil this dual role after the first flush of passion passed?• They are still in the first flush of passion.• We are getting divorced, after the first flush of twenties marriages.• Now aged 31, Cardus is no longer in the first flush of youth.

16 job title 职衔 used in the title of someone’s job or position to show that they have a high rank 〔用于职衔名称，表示职位高〕

17. first among equals IMPORTANTofficially on the same level as other people but really having more power 同级别中的领导者

Examples from the Corpus

first among equals• But Aggie was first among equals.• Cash is the first among equals.• The prime minister was primus inter pares in the cabinet-the first among equals.

18. of the first water old-fashionedGOOD/EXCELLENT of the highest quality 第一流的，上等的，质量最高的

Examples from the Corpus

of the first water• And as for Barbara Hervey - she was a bore of the first water.

Examples from the Corpus

first• She made her first appearance on the stage in the 1950s.• She had her first baby in 1998.• I read the first chapter and got so scared I couldn't finish the book.• I've only read the first chapter, but it seems like a really good book.• I still remember my first day of school.• Put the first five ingredients into a large pot and simmer gently for an hour.• the first Monday of every month• Laurie's name was first on the list.• Our first priority is to maintain the quality of the product.• The first thing I ever had published was an article for the Boy Scout magazine.• Jenkins left his first wife after only two years of marriage.

first and last• Instead of pressing the spacebar anywhere between the first and last characters of the text, press the Home spacebar.• These records included the first and last dates of all absences and the reason for absence.• At Banff I climbed my first and last mountain - Mount Rundle.• I sat back and treated myself to a cigarette, determined to make it the first and last of the day.• And a system whose first and last resort was all too often expediency.• For the first and last time in her life, Amelia was too preoccupied to interact with her peers.• It was the first and last time that management capitulated in the face of a departing mortgage trader.• She wrote that she was dying of a fever, and asked him to visit her for the first and last time.

first2 S1 W2 adverbadv

1 before anything or anyone else 最先，最早

2 before doing anything else, or before anything else happens 先，首先

3 done for the first time 首次，第一次

4 at the beginning of a situation or activity 开始之时，最初

5 [sentence adverbadv] (also first of all) used before saying the first of several things you want to say 第一，首先 SYN firstly

6 first off informal

Examples from the Corpus

first off• Well, first off, I want to know what you've done with the money I gave you.

7 first up British EnglishBrE spoken informal used to introduce the first thing you are going to talk about, or the first thing that is going to happen 第一样东西，第一件事

8 put somebody/something first to consider someone or something as the most important person or thing 认为某人/某事最重要，把某人/某事放在第一位

9 come first

Examples from the Corpus

first in• Tom Nick just came first in his class which is very good.• I had come first in our exams and tests.• Invariably, new clauses will come first in the order of business on Report.• He came first in the test at the end of the day with a mere 100%.• The harpsichord comes first in the title, and Boismortier inscribed the keyboard parts with considerable flair.• The comfort and convenience of the president himself comes first in the use of all these facilities.

10 first and foremost used to emphasize the most important quality, purpose, reason etc 首先，首要的是〔用于强调〕

Examples from the Corpus

first and foremost• However my worry is not first and foremost a medical one but a spiritual one.• And Mr Hemsley is first and foremost a producer-not a commodity trader.• It is a film first and foremost about loss.• Mayor Agnos is a conservative Christian, but he considers himself first and foremost an American.• My other travelling companion, John Lawrence, would describe himself first and foremost as a writer.• It has been established that such items as these were employed first and foremost as musical instalments.• This meant, first and foremost, following Bacon in the making of natural histories.• What children need first and foremost from their parents is a sense of security.• Friends say that this was the demand she put first and foremost on the list of what she wanted to achieve.• First and foremost, they are looking for ways to save money.• I really think that first and foremost this one's down to the board.

11 first and last used to emphasize that something is the most important thing or quality 主要地〔强调是最重要的事或品质〕

Examples from the Corpus

12 first come, first servedfirst served first come used to say that something will be given to the people who ask for it first, when there is not enough for everyone 先到先得

Examples from the Corpus

on a first come, first served basis• Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

n Grammar

Choosing the right tense

First is used with the simple past:

We first met in 2005.

✗Don’t say: We have first met in 2005.

Word order

First usually comes before a main verb:

I first went to Paris two years ago.

First comes after ‘be’ when it is the main verb:

I was first in Paris two years ago.

First comes after the first auxiliary:

When did you first realize you wanted to be a doctor?

THESAURUS

first/firstly used when mentioning the first in a list of reasons, arguments, or questions to consider 首先

I want you to consider these three points in your essay: first, what is the writer’s attitude to the war in this poem ...

我希望你能在文章中阐述以下三点: 首先，本诗中作者对战争的态度…

There are several reasons for this conclusion. Firstly ...

本结论基于以下理由: 首先…

first of all used especially to emphasize that the first of several things you are going to say is the most important thing 首先〔尤用于强调所说的第一件事最重要〕

The content of the article must, first of all, be accurate.

文章的内容首先必须准确无误。

First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last two years.

首先，非常感谢在过去两年里所有支持过我们的人。

in the first place spoken (also for a start British EnglishBrE) spoken used when giving the first and most important reason or example, especially when you are arguing or discussing something with someone 首先〔用于列举重要理由或事例,尤在辩论或讨论时用〕

Our main priority should be better public transport – in the first place to reduce the amount of traffic on our roads.

我们的重点应当是改善公共交通——首先要减少马路上的车流量。

He’s not the right person for the job. For a start he’s too young.

他不是这份工作的合适人选。首先，他太年轻。

to begin with/to start with spoken used when telling someone the first and most important thing that you want to say 首先〔用于说明最先以及最重要的事〕

There are numerous activities on offer. To start with there are over 60 miles of walks with splendid views.

有各式各样的活动可供选择。首先便是长达60多英里的徒步观景之旅。

nLet me tell you something about him. To begin with, he is the most difficult man that I know.

Examples from the Corpus

first• "Shall we go for some lunch?" "Yeah, great, let me just make a quick call first."• Who's going first?• I always read the sports page of the newspaper first.• It's mine - I saw it first.• Shall we go out now, or do you want to eat first?• Shall we fill in the forms first, and get that out of the way?• We first became friends when we were teenagers.• When she first became pregnant, she contemplated an abortion, but eventually gave birth.• Yet it was designed in the 1970s, and first flew in 1981; the technology is rooted in those days.• Meanwhile, sociologists quote statistics that suggest that women who establish careers first have relatively small probabilities of getting married.• When I first heard about what happened, I thought it was a joke.• You can borrow the book, but first I've got to find it.• Johnson finished first in the 100-meter dash.• This strategy has worked best for those who were first in the cyber economy, the pioneers of the landless continent.• First, Jack would not allow it, and second, I don't think Mom would like it much either.• I'll help you with your homework, but first let me finish the dishes.• I first met Bobby when he enrolled in a summer program I had developed for underprepared students.• Simmons' book was first published in Australia last year.• It was here that I first started to get a closer feel for what the military operations were.• We have to think about that first, the Marlins second.• Add the onions and garlic first, then the mushrooms.

First of all• Vincente frowned. First of all he picked up my clubs, pronounced them useless and advised me to sell them forthwith.• But some people were not happy about the accident. First of all, her boyfriend, Drew Stephens.• Dear Bash First of all I'd like to compliment you on such a brill and fabbo magazine.• I swung my boots up on to the bed and stretched out full length. First of all, I was not dead.• Well yes actually. First of all, it still costs £21,500 and for the money, almost nothing even gets close.• Now these are not going to be here for very much longer. First of all, the tank is too small.• I unpacked all the things he'd bought. First of all, there was G.P.'s picture.• First of all , we'd better make sure we have everything we need.

first3 S2 W2 noun

1 at first used to talk about the beginning of a situation, especially when it is different now 起初

Examples from the Corpus

at first• At first, exercising seemed like an obligation, but now I really enjoy it.

2 [countableC usually singular] something that has never happened or been done before 第一个[次]

3 from the (very) first from the beginning of a situation 从一开始

Examples from the Corpus

from the (very) first• This performance needed more pace, a lighter touch throughout from the orchestra and much greater clarity from the first violins.• Although the data from the first study are still being analysed, initial results are promising.• The relationship was doomed to failure from the first.• The second word is the noun formed from the first word, the verb.• Research and design skills can be electronically brought in from the first world.• The follow up study was restricted to participants from the first study who were 25 to 74 years of age at baseline.• The main concern over the century was to shift as much as possible from the first to the second form.• His watch, his ring, his money and his suitcase neatly packed had all been sent from the first hotel.• By 1990, only Sir Geoffrey Howe survived from the first cabinet.

4 [countableC] the highest mark you can get in a university degree in Britain 〔英国大学学位中的〕优等成绩，最高成绩

5 [uncountableU] the lowest gear in a car or other vehicle, that you use when moving slowly 〔汽车等交通工具的〕一挡，最低挡 SYN first gear

Examples from the Corpus

That will be a first• Barbara has won countless glamorous grandmother contests since becoming the first ever winner of the Widnes title in 1977.• Get the men digging first though.• In essence, this was his first fight since Garcia, which was almost a year ago.• Stuart shook his head, and for the first time I saw that he was honestly impressed.• The company's first problem was with the ASICs which proved six months late.• The moon was high and the first birds had begun calling from the shrubs and marsh grass by the edge.• The ratios generated by the capture-recapture method display a remarkable similarity and identical ranking to those obtained by the first two methods.• The spirited debate that follows is cut off by the bell for the first bus.

first4 S2 W2 pronoun

1 the first the first person to do something, or the first thing to happen 第一个人；首次出现的事物

2 the first I knew/heard used when you have just discovered something that other people already know, and you are slightly annoyed 我第一次知道/听说〔指刚知道其他人已知之事，并略感气恼〕

3 the First spoken used after the name of a king, queen, or pope when other later ones have the same name 一世〔用于国王、女王或教皇的名字后〕

Origin first1

Old English fyrst

first1 adjectiveadj

→10-18

first2 adverbadv →n GRAMMAR1 →THESAURUS1first3 nounfirst4 pronoun

LDOCE Online

Chinese

Corpus

BNC: 79 COCA: 86

first

noun¹

(also first gear)

lowest gear on a bicycle/vehicle自行車或汽車的最低擋

VERB + FIRST | PREPOSITION

VERB + FIRST

➤get into, move into, slam into掛上頭擋

◇As he moved into first, the engine made a strange noise.他掛一擋時，發動機發出奇怪的噪聲。

➤engage (formal) 掛上一擋

◇She engaged first gear and pulled off.她掛上一擋把車開到路邊停下。

➤put sth into把⋯掛上頭擋

◇Put the car into first and pull off slowly.把車掛到頭擋駛向路邊慢慢停下來。

➤find找到一擋位置

◇It's very difficult to find first on this car.這輛車的一擋很難掛。

PREPOSITION

➤in first掛一擋

◇I had to drive all the way home in first.我不得不掛一擋一路開車回家。

first

noun²

(BrE)

highest level of university degree大學中的優等成績

ADJECTIVE | VERB + FIRST | PREPOSITION

ADJECTIVE

➤double兩名學科獲優等成績

◇She did Philosophy and English Literature and got a double first.她修了哲學和英國文學並且都獲得了優等成績。

VERB + FIRST

➤be awarded, gain, get, obtain獲得優等成績

PREPOSITION

➤first in⋯獲得優等

◇He got a first in modern history.他的現代史得了優。

BNC: 79 COCA: 86

first det., adj.
⇨ first (first impressions) ⇨ top (first prize) first

determiner

adjective

first

♦︎

initial

♦︎

original

♦︎

preliminary

♦︎

opening

♦︎

earliest

♦︎

primary

♦︎

introductory

♦︎

preparatoryThese words all describe sth that happens or exists at the beginning. 这些词均表示最初的、开始的、最早的。

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配

◆preliminary / preparatory to sth

◆the first / initial / preliminary / opening / earliest / primary / introductory / preparatory stage

◆first / initial / original / preliminary / opening / introductory remarks

◆a first / an initial / an original / a preliminary estimate / draft / version

◆the first / initial / preliminary / introductory / preparatory meeting

◆a first / an initial / a preliminary step / appointment / visit

◆the first / opening / introductory chapter / paragraph

◆the initial / the original / a preliminary / a preparatory study

◆the initial / original / preliminary findings

■ first

determiner

(of a person or thing) happening or coming before all other similar things or people; 1st 第一

◆his first wife他的第一任妻子

◆King Richard I (= said as 'King Richard the First') 英王理查一世

◆It was the first time they had ever met.这是他们初次见面。

◆She resolved to do it at the first opportunity.她决定一有机会就去做。

◆First impressions can be misleading.最初的印象有时会误导人。

◆You can have first choice of all the rooms.所有房间由你优先挑选。

◆We're having chicken for the first course.我们的第一道菜是鸡肉。

OPP

last ⇨

last

last ⇨

last

▸

first

adverb

◆First I had to decide what to wear.首先我得决定穿什么。

◆Who came first in the race (= who won)?赛跑谁得第一？

▸

at first

idiom

◆At first I thought she was joking but then I realized she meant it.起先我以为她在开玩笑，但随后意识到她是认真的。

◆I didn't like the job much at first.起初我并不太喜欢这个工作。

■ initial

ɪˈnɪʃl

[only before noun]

happening at the beginning; first 最初的；开始的；第一的

◆My initial reaction was to decline the offer.我最初的反应是想要谢绝这个提议。

◆It is the initial preparation that takes the time.花时间的是最初的准备工作。

◆There is an initial payment of £60 followed by ten instalments of £25.首期付款60英镑，接下来还有十次25英镑的分期付款。

ⓘ

Initial is used especially to talk about a reaction or feeling that does not last very long * initial尤用以描述持续时间不太长的反应或感觉

◆By 1960 the initial optimism had evaporated.到1960年时，最初的乐观主义已经消失了。

◆sb's initial response / impression / instinct / shock / surprise / enthusiasm / euphoria / excitement / scepticism / reluctance某人最初的反应／印象／本能／震惊／惊诧／热情／兴奋／激动／怀疑／不情愿

; about a stage in a process 还可形容过程中的一个阶段

◆the initial stage / phase / step / planning / preparation初始阶段／时期；第一步；最初的计划／准备

; or about paying or spending money. 亦可描述付款或花费

◆the initial investment / payment / outlay首期投资／付款；初期项目经费

OPP

final ⇨

last

▸

initially

adverb

◆My contract is initially for three years.我的合同最初订了三年。

◆Initially, the system worked well.开始时系统运转良好。

■ original

[only before noun]

existing at the beginning of a particular period, process or activity, especially before being changed into sth else 原来的，起初的，原本的（尤指后来发生了变化）

◆The room still has many of its original features.房间还保留着当初的许多特点。

◆I think you should go back to your original plan.我认为你应该回头执行你原来的计划。

▸

originally

adverb

◆The school was originally very small.这所学校一开始很小。

◆He comes originally from Peru.他原本来自秘鲁。

■ preliminary

prɪˈlɪmɪnəri; NAmE prɪˈlɪmɪneri

happening before a more important action or event, especially by introducing or preparing for it 预备性的；初步的；前期的

◆After a few preliminary remarks he announced the winners.说了几句开场白后，他即宣布优胜者名单。

◆This is just a pilot study preliminary to a full-scale study.这只是进行全面研究之前的试验性研究。

■ opening

[only before noun]

(especially of sth that sb says or writes, or a piece of music, etc.) happening at the beginning （尤指讲话或文字作品、乐曲等）开始的，开篇的

◆She was humming the opening bars of a song she had heard on the radio.她正哼着在收音机里听过的一首歌的开头几句。

◆United scored in the opening minutes of the game.比赛一开场没几分钟联队就得分了。

OPP

closing ⇨

last

see also

opening ⇨

start

noun

open ⇨

begin

verb

■ earliest

the nearest to the beginning of an event or period of time 最早的

◆The earliest description of this species dates from 1816.对这一物种最早的描述可以追溯到1816年。

◆The earliest possible date I can make is the third.我能定下来的最早的日期是3号。

■ primary

ˈpraɪməri; NAmE ˈpraɪmeri

[usually before noun]

(formal

~~technical 术语~~)

developing or happening first; earliest 最初的；最早的

◆The disease is still in its primary stage.这病尚处于初始阶段。

◆It is not self-evident what the primary causes of this phenomenon are.这种现象最初的原因是什么，并非显而易见。

see also

primary ⇨

main

■ introductory

ˌɪntrəˈdʌktəri

written or said at the beginning of sth as an introduction to what follows; intended as an introduction to a subject or activity for people who have never done it before 引导的；介绍的；入门的

◆The booklist at the end of the chapter contains some introductory reading on the subject.章节末尾的书单列出了一些有关该主题的导读材料。

◆I took an introductory class in psychology during my first year at college.我大学一年级时修了一门心理学基础课程。

see also

introduction ⇨

basics

introduction ⇨

introduction

■ preparatory

prɪˈpærətri; NAmE prɪˈpærətɔːri

[only before noun]

(especially BrE,

formal)