mo·men·tum /məʊˈmentəm, mə- $ moʊ-, mə-/ ●○○ noun [uncountableU] 1 FAST/QUICKINCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNTthe ability to keep increasing, developing, or being more successful 动力,势头gain/gather momentum 加速 The campaign for reform should start to gather momentum in the new year. 要求进行改革的运动在新的一年里声势应该会壮大。
incentives to maintain the momentum of European integration 保持欧洲一体化发展势头的激励措施
Governments often lose momentum in their second term of office. 政府往往会在第二届任期中丧失冲劲。
momentum of the momentum of increasing immigration 移民增多的势头
momentum towards the momentum towards economic union 经济上融合的势头
2 FAST/QUICKthe force that makes a moving object keep moving 〔使运动物体继续运动的〕冲力,推力,动力gain/gather momentum (=move faster) 加速 The wheel was allowed to roll down the slope, gathering momentum as it went. 那轮子沿着斜坡向下滚动,速度越来越快。
Pratt, without losing any momentum at all, passed them both and won the race. 普拉特劲头丝毫不减,超过他们两个赢得了比赛。
n COLLOCATIONSverbsgain/gather/build up momentum (=become more and more successful)The show gathered momentum over the next few months and became a huge hit.
give something momentum (=make something become more successful)The agreement was small, but it gave new momentum to the talks.
maintain momentum (=make something continue at the same pace)The party was determined to maintain the momentum of reform.
lose momentum (=to start to become less successful)The team seems to have lost its momentum.
keep the momentum going (also sustain the momentum formal) (=keep being successful)Hopefully we can keep the momentum going and win the next game as well.
adjectivesirresistible (=that cannot be stopped)The social changes began to gather irresistible momentum.
gain/gather momentum• How did the escaping gas gain momentum?• It's a subject that has gained momentum across the country in recent years.• That idea, once dismissed as nonsense, keeps gaining momentum.• Biological and entomological studies gained momentum through the photographic record.• Clay Shaw of Florida, has failed to gain momentum, and time is running out.• I waited for it to gather momentum.• Gradually the train gathered momentum, and within seconds it was moving at top speed.• The slope was getting steeper and their sledge was gaining momentum all the time. gain/gather momentum• How did the escaping gas gain momentum?• It's a subject that has gained momentum across the country in recent years.• That idea, once dismissed as nonsense, keeps gaining momentum.• Biological and entomological studies gained momentum through the photographic record.• Clay Shaw of Florida, has failed to gain momentum, and time is running out.• I waited for it to gather momentum.
From Longman Business Dictionary
momentummo·men·tum /məʊˈmentəm, mə-moʊ-, mə-/ noun [uncountableU] the ability to keep increasing, developing, or being more successfulA movement to remove government restrictions on business operations gained momentum.
Economists warned the economy was losing momentum rapidly and that growth could slip as low as 1.5% next year.