accident /ˈæksədənt/ noun plural accidents
plural accidents
Learner's definition of ACCIDENT
[count]
1
: a sudden event (such as a crash) that is not planned or intended and that causes damage or injury事故；意外遭遇 -
We got in a car accident. = We had a car accident.我们遭遇了车祸。
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a traffic accident交通事故
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a fatal accident死亡事故
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a motorcycle accident摩托车事故
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He was injured in an accident at work.他工作时出意外受了伤。
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The accident happened when her car slid on a patch of ice.这场事故的起因是她的汽车在冰上打滑。
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Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the accident.调查员们还在努力确定事故的起因。
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“I'm sorry that I broke the bowl.” “That's OK. It was just an accident.” = “That's OK. Accidents will happen.”“对不起，我把碗打碎了。”“没关系。这只是个意外。”
◊ An accident waiting to happen is a person or thing that is dangerous or unsafe.危险人物危险事件
2
: an event that is not planned or intended : an event that occurs by chance意外；偶发事件 -
Their meeting was an accident.他们的碰面纯属偶然。
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It is just an accident that they arrived when they did.我们两拨人碰巧同时到了。
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She says that her pregnancy was an accident.她说自己的怀孕是个意外。
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His wealth is a mere accident of birth. [=he is wealthy only because he was born into a wealthy family]他之所以富有仅仅是因为他碰巧生在了有钱人家。
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He says that no one is to blame for his illness. It was just an accident of nature. [=something that happened naturally]他说自己的病谁也不能怪，只是凑巧赶上了。
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It is no accident that the assistant he hired is so good-looking. [=he deliberately chose a good-looking person to be his assistant]他雇了一个长得那么漂亮的助理绝不是偶然。
by accident
: in a way that is not planned or intended偶然；碰巧 -
They met by accident. [=by chance]他们碰巧遇上了。
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She says that she became pregnant by accident. [=unintentionally]她说她意外怀孕了。
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Scientists discovered the vaccine almost/quite/entirely by accident.科学家们发现这种疫苗，几乎/实在/完全是个偶然。
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Did it happen by accident [=accidentally] or by design?这件事是意外还是事先设计好的？