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小词详解 | deplete

田间小站 田间小站 2022-09-30


deplete 英 [dɪˈpliːt] 美 [dɪˈpliːt]

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外刊例句


  • Underground water has helped feed the world, but in many places it is dangerously depleted.
    地下水帮助养活了世界,但在许多地方已经危险地消耗殆尽。
    ——《经济学人》

  • While Mr. Romney has depleted much of his funds from the nominating contest, he is four weeks away from being able to tap into tens of millions of dollars in general election money.
    尽管罗姆尼已经耗尽了他在提名竞选中筹集的大部分资金,但是再过四周,他就可以动用数千万美元的大选资金了。
    ——《纽约时报》


基本释义


[verb] use up the supply or resources of
[动词] 耗尽……的供应或资源


深入解读


Deplete 一词比较好记,就是在熟词 delete 的中间多加了一个字母 p ,该词逆构自英语单词 depletion (耗尽、空虚、枯竭,医学上指“液体、血液等的排除、缺失”以及由于缺液而产生的“衰竭”),最初也是用在医学上指“排除器官、血管等的液体或血液”或“使缺失液体”。


从这个概念出发, deplete 很自然地就被用来泛指“大量减少、耗尽、使枯竭”,主要指大量减少某物以至于没有足够的剩余物或者说造成储存物、金钱、精力等供应或资源耗尽,强调因为耗尽而潜在的危害,好比大量放血不仅会减少血液量,还会引发身体器官衰竭,比如:


  • 主食供应已严重不足。
    Staple food supplies were severely depleted.

  • 我分居的丈夫开始不停地烦我,要我给他钱。他上次度假花掉了我银行账户里的一大笔钱!
    My 
    estranged husband started hassling me to give him money. His last holiday seriously depleted my bank account!


而将其用在核物理上,则是指“使贫化”,比如臭名昭著的(notorious)贫铀弹就在英语中称为“depleted uranium ammunition”。


权威用例

支持资源型地区经济转型发展。
Support will be given to resource-depleted areas in their economic transformation.

出自十九大报告《决胜全面建成小康社会 夺取新时代中国特色社会主义伟大胜利》(Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Strive for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era)。


同近义词


  • exhaust: use up (resources or reserves) completely

  • drain: cause (money, energy, or another valuable resource) to be lost, wasted, or used up

  • impoverish: exhaust the strength or vitality of


往期回顾

小词详解 | weary

小词详解 | elicit

小词详解 | deficit

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