myth
/mɪθ/noun
1
- a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events神话。
1.1
- mass noun such stories collectively总称神话：
the heroes of Greek myth.
希腊神话中的英雄。
2
- a widely held but false belief or idea（普遍持有的）错误见解（或想法）：
dispelling the myth that croquet is a genteel Sunday afternoon pastime
消除认为槌球是一种上流社会星期日午后消遣的错误看法
mass noun contrary to popular myth, the south-east does not consist entirely of rich people.与流行的错误看法相反, 东南地区并不全是有钱人。
2.1
- a misrepresentation of the truth编造的话; 谎言; 歪曲：
attacking the party's irresponsible myths about privatization.
抨击该党就私有化问题不负责任的歪曲言论。
2.2
- a fictitious or imaginary person or thing虚构的人（或事）; 想像中的人（或事）。
2.3
- an exaggerated or idealized conception of a person or thing对人（或事物）所持有的夸大（或理想化）的概念; 对人（或事物）的理想化看法; 神话：
the book is a scholarly study of the Churchill myth.
这本书是对丘吉尔这一神话进行的学术性研究。
词源
mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin mythus, via late Latin from Greek muthos.