en·gage·ment /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/ ●●○ noun 1 before marriage 婚前 [countableC]MARRY an agreement between two people to marry, or the period of time they are engaged 婚约;订婚期间engagement of/to Their engagement was announced in the paper. 他们订婚的消息在报上公布了。
Tony was stunned when Lisa suddenly broke off their engagement (=finished it). 托尼对莉萨突然解除他俩的婚约感到震惊。
engagement ring (=a ring that a man gives a woman to show that they are engaged) 〔男方给女方的〕订婚戒指
2 arrangement to do STH 约定做某事 [countableC]BUSY/NOT AVAILABLE an official arrangement to do something, especially one that is related to your work 〔尤指与工作有关的〕约定,约会official/public/royal etc engagement The princess will continue to carry out royal engagements. 公主将继续履行王室的约定。
This is his only public speaking engagement on the tour. 这是他此行唯一一场公开演讲。
His excuse of a prior engagement was accepted. 他事先另有安排的理由被接受了。
3 involvement 联系 [uncountableU] when you become involved with someone or something in order to understand them (与…的)密切关系engagement with/in a strategy of engagement and cooperation with China 与中国保持联系和合作的策略
Many students pass without any real engagement in learning. 许多学生没怎么学习就通过了考试。
4 PMFIGHTfighting 战斗 [countableC, uncountableU] technical fighting between armies etc 交战 military rules of engagement 交战的军事规则
5 employment 雇用 [countableC, uncountableU] formal an official arrangement to employ or pay someone to do a particular job 雇用,聘用 Please sign to indicate your acceptance of the terms of engagement. 请签名表示你接受聘用条款。
6. machine parts 机器部件 [uncountableU]TE the fitting together of the working parts of a machine 啮合 n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: an agreement between two people to marry, or the period of time they are engagedverbsannounce your engagement (=tell people about it)The couple are expected to announce their engagement today.
break off your engagement (=suddenly end it)Were you surprised when Toni broke off your engagement?
adjectiveslong (=a long period between getting engaged and getting married)Neither of them wanted a long engagement.
shortThey were married last month after a short engagement.
engagement + NOUNengagement ringJerry bought her a beautiful sapphire engagement ring.
n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: an official arrangement to do something, especially one that is related to your workverbshave an engagementI don't have any engagements tomorrow.
carry out an engagementLast year, the princess carried out over 300 official engagements.
cancel an engagementHe instructed his secretary to cancel all his engagements.
adjectivesan official engagementThis is the prime minister's first official engagement since the elections.
a public engagementShe appeared with her husband at many public engagements.
an important engagementHe had an important engagement with his solicitor.
a previous/prior engagement (=one that is already arranged)I'm sorry I can't be there, but I have a previous engagement.
a speaking engagement (=one in which you give a speech)I've been turning down speaking engagements to concentrate on writing my memoirs.