wit·ness1 /ˈwɪtnəs/ ●●○ S3 W3 noun 1 crime/accident 罪案/意外事故SEE [countableC] someone who sees a crime or an accident and can describe what happened 〔罪案或事故的〕目击者 Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward. 警方呼吁目击者站出来。
witness to One witness to the accident said the driver appeared to be drunk. 事故的一名目击者说司机似乎喝醉了。
an eye witness (=someone who sees an event) to the robbery 抢劫案的一名目击者
→ eyewitness 2 in a court of law 在法庭上 [countableC]SCT someone who appears in a court of law to say what they know about a crime or other event 〔法庭上的〕证人 → testifykey/star/principal witness the key witness in the case against the brothers 起诉那几兄弟一案中的关键证人
The defence is expected to call them as witnesses. 预计辩方会传召他们作为证人。
witness for the prosecution/defence (also prosecution/defence witness) (=someone the prosecution or defence lawyers choose as a witness in order to help prove their case) 控方/辩方证人
→ expert witness 3 signing a document 签署文件 [countableC]SCL someone who is present when an official document is signed, and who signs it too, to say that they saw it being signed 〔签署正式文件的〕见证人,连署人witness to a witness to a will 遗嘱的见证人
4 be witness to something formalSEE to be present when something happens, and watch it happening 是某事的目击者 We were witness to the worst excesses of the military. 我们目击了最恶劣的军队暴行。
5. christian belief 基督教信仰 [countableC, uncountableU] American EnglishAmERRC a public statement of strong Christian belief, or someone who makes such a statement 见证〔表示笃信基督教的公开声明〕;见证人〔作这种见证的人〕 → bear witness at bear1(15)n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: someone who appears in a court of law to say what they know about a crime or other eventADJECTIVES/NOUN + witness a key witness (=a very important witness)Rupert is expected to be a key witness at the trial.
a star witness (=an important witness who says things that help one side a lot)The judge ruled that the state’s star witness had lied on the stand.
a principal witness (=a main witness)The principal witness was too ill to testify.
an expert witness (=someone who has special knowledge, for example of medicine, and who talks about it in court)The jury had to choose between the conflicting testimonies of expert witnesses.
a character witness (=a witness who says that the person being tried is a good person)He said he would gladly be a character witness for her.
a prosecution witnessDuring the trial, over thirty prosecution witnesses were called.
a defence witnessA defence witness said that Carter was not holding a gun when the shot was fired.
phrasesa witness for the prosecution/defenceWitnesses for the prosecution have not sounded convincing.
verbscall a witness (=require a witness to speak in court)She was the final witness to be called.
question a witnessThey were not permitted to question government witnesses.
cross-examine a witness (=ask them questions about what they have said)His attorney cross-examined the witness.
appear as a witnessHe appeared as an expert witness at several government enquiries.
a witness testifies (=makes a statement)We had two witnesses who testified that they had seen him hitting his wife.
a witness gives evidenceChild witnesses gave evidence using closed circuit television cameras.
witness + NOUNthe witness box/stand (=where the witness sits when speaking in court)He spent three hours in the witness stand.
the statement/testimony of a witness (=what a witness says)The testimony of one witness led to his conviction.