mass noun
1- a loose granular substance, typically pale yellowish brown, resulting from the erosion of siliceous and other rocks and forming a major constituent of beaches, river beds, the seabed, and deserts沙。
1.1
sands
an expanse of sand, typically along a shore沙滩：in place names Goodwin Sands.古德温暗沙。
1.2
- count noun a stratum of sandstone or compacted sand沙石层, 沙层。
1.3
- technical sediment whose particles are larger than silt (typically greater than 0.06 mm)〈技〉（尤指大于0.06毫米的沙粒构成的）沉积沙土。
1.4
- N. Amer. informal firmness of purpose〈北美, 非正式〉坚定, 刚毅：
no one has the sand to stand against him.
没有人有胆量反对他。
1.5
- a light yellow-brown colour like that of sand沙土色, 浅黄灰色, 浅棕色。
with obj.
1
- smooth or polish with sandpaper or a mechanical sander（用砂纸或打磨机）磨光, 磨平：
mask off the area to be painted and sand it down
把要上油漆的地方遮盖住, 再用砂纸磨光
as noun sanding some recommend a light sanding between the second and third coats.有人建议在第二道和第三道（油漆）之间用砂纸稍微打一下。
2
- sprinkle or overlay with sand, to give better purchase on a surface撒沙于; 铺沙于。
短语
drive （或run） (something) into the sand
- come (or bring something) to a halt（使）停止, （使）终止：
its privatization programme ran straight into the sand.
私有化方案随即终止。
the sands (of time) are running out
- the allotted time is nearly at an end时间不多了。
- ORIGIN: with reference to the sand of an hourglass.
派生词
sand-like
adjective词源
Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zand and German Sand.