These are all words for woven or knitted cotton, silk, wool, etc., used for making things such as clothes and curtains, and for covering furniture. 以上各词均指织物、布料。

• fabric woven or knitted cotton, silk, wool, etc., used for making things such as clothes and curtains, and for covering furniture 指织物、布料：◆cotton fabric 棉织物◆furnishing fabrics 室内装饰织物 NOTE Fabric is often fairly strong material, and is often used when talking about covering furniture or making curtains. * fabric 常指较结实的材料，常用于指盖家具、做窗帘的织物。
• cloth fabric made by weaving or knitting cotton, wool, silk, etc. 指织物、布料：◆His bandages had been made from strips of cloth. 他的绷带是用布条做的。 NOTE Cloth is often fairly light material, especially in a form that has not been printed, treated, or prepared for use in any way. Cloth is frequently used in talking about buying and selling woven material. * cloth 常指较轻的材料，尤指尚未印花、处理或加工的织物。cloth 常指买卖的织物、布料。
• material fabric used for making clothes, curtains, etc. 指布料：◆'What material is this dress made of?' 'Cotton.' “这条裙子是用什么料子做的？” “棉布。” NOTE Material is a more general word than fabric or cloth as it has the related meaning of 'a substance that things can be made from'. It is not used when it might not be clear which type of material is meant. * material 较 fabric 或 cloth 含义更广，因为该词含材料、原料等相关意义。不清楚布料类型就不用该词：◆furnishing material◆the material industry◆a material manufacturer
• textile any type of fabric made by weaving or knitting 指纺织品：◆He owns a factory producing a range of textiles. 他拥有一家工厂，生产一系列纺织品。◆the textile industry 纺织工业 NOTE Textile is used mostly when talking about the business of making woven materials. The industry of making textiles is called textiles. * textile 多用来表示织物生产活动，纺织业叫 textiles：◆He got a job in textiles. 他在纺织行业找到一份工作。

Patterns

• woven/cotton/woollen fabric/cloth/material/textiles
• synthetic fabric/material/textiles
• printed fabric/cloth/textiles
• furnishing/curtain/dress fabric/material

These are all words for the things that you need for a particular purpose or activity. 以上各词均指特定目的或活动所需的材料、设备、器材。

• equipment the things that are needed for a particular purpose or activity 指特定目的或活动所需的设备、器材：◆camping equipment 野营装备◆a piece of equipment 一件设备
• material things that are needed for a particular activity 指特定活动所需的材料：◆household cleaning materials 家用清洁剂◆teaching material 教学材料

equipment or material? 用 equipment 还是 material？

Equipment is usually solid things, especially large ones. Materials may be liquids, powders or books, CDs, etc. containing information, as well as small solid items. * equipment 通常指固体材料，尤其是大型设备器材；material 除指小型固体材料外，还可指液体、粉末、书籍、信息光盘等。

• gear the equipment or clothes needed for a particular activity 指某种活动所需的设备、用具、衣服：◆Skiing gear can be expensive. 滑雪装备有时会很昂贵。
• kit a set of tools or equipment that you use for a particular purpose 指用于特定目的的成套工具、成套设备：◆a first-aid kit 一套急救用品◆a tool kit 一套工具
• apparatus the tools or other pieces of equipment that are needed for a particular activity or task 指特定活动或任务所需的仪器、器械、装置：◆breathing apparatus for firefighters 消防员用的呼吸器◆laboratory apparatus 实验室仪器 NOTE Apparatus is used especially for scientific, medical or technical purposes. * apparatus 尤具有科学、医学或技术等方面的用途。

Patterns

• electrical/electronic equipment/gear/apparatus
• sports equipment/gear/kit
• camping equipment/gear
• a piece of equipment/apparatus