| 释义 |
ear·ly /ˈɜːlɪ/ ad. | a. | n. | phr.
I ad.
1. 在开始阶段，在初期，在早期
The pen might be mine. I lost one earlier. 那枝笔可能是我的，因为我早些时候掉了一枝。
2. 早；在原定(或通常)的时间之前，提早
Please come early. 请早点儿来。
He got up early. 他早早起了床。
The show closed four hours early. 展览会提早4小时结束。
The apples bear early. 这些苹果树结果早。
3. 从前，古时候
Man early discovered the use of fire. 古时候人们就发现了火的用途。
4. 不久，很快地
II a.
1. 早期的，早先的，在前的
an early moon 初升的月亮
the early 1980s 20世纪80年代初期
in the month of May and early June 在5月份和6月初
the early spring 早春
the early morning 清早
the early chapters 前几章
In his early years, he liked ships. 他早年喜欢船。
The British rider did poorly at the early fences. 那位英国骑手头几栏跨得不好。
2. 早的；提早的；早产的，早熟的
It is too early to look for blackberries. 现在去采黑莓为时过早。
We had an early dinner today. 我们今天吃了顿早晚餐。
an early peach 时鲜桃子
early tulips 早熟的郁金香
3. 很久以前的；远古的
When I stayed in caves I thought about those early people. 我呆在山洞里的时候，想到了那些原始人。
4. 不久的，很快的
We expect an answer at an early date. 我们期待早日得到答复。
seek an early opportunity for discussion 寻找一个及早讨论的机会
III n.
[常作earlies]
1. 时鲜蔬菜(或水果)
A few samples of earlies were offered at market today. 几种时鲜果蔬的样品已于今日上市。
2. 早年；早先的日子
This was more common in the earlies of Africa than now. 这在早先的非洲比现在更为常见。
3. 〈口〉早班
He is on earlies. 他在上早班。
[<OE ǣrlīce < ǣr ere ＋-LY¹] phr. at the earliest 作为最早日期，至早 on Wednesday at the earliest 最早星期三 early and late 一直，无论何时 early in the day 尚早；太早 It's (too) early in the day to know whether the new book is a success or not. 现在就确定这本新书是否成功为时尚早。early on 在初期；早先 He developed a musical interest early on. 他在早年就对音乐产生了兴趣。She turned him down quite early on. 她早就拒绝了他。Mary came to see you earlier on, but you weren't at home then. 玛丽早些时候来看过你，但你那时不在家。early or late 迟早 |