1
- a savagely violent person or animal残忍的人(或野兽):
he was a cold-blooded brute.
他是一个残暴的冷血动物。
1.1
- informal a cruel, unpleasant, or insensitive person〈非正式〉残忍的人; 令人不快的人; 麻木不仁的人:
what an unfeeling little brute you are.
你真是个心肠铁硬、麻木不仁的小东西。
1.2
- an animal as opposed to a human being野兽。
1.3
- something which is awkward, difficult, or unpleasant笨拙的(或困难的、令人讨厌的)东西:
a great brute of a machine.
一台笨拙的机器。
attrib.
1- unreasoning and animal-like不理智的; 野兽似的:
a brute struggle for social superiority.
为了取得优越的社会地位而作的不理智的斗争。
1.1
- merely physical单纯体力的:
we achieve little by brute force.
单靠蛮力我们可能一事无成。
1.2
- harsh, fundamental, or inescapable严酷的; 基本的; 不可避免的:
the brute necessities of basic subsistence.
基本的生活必需品。
词源
late Middle English (as an adjective): from Old French brut(e), from Latin brutus 'dull, stupid'.