discreet
/dɪˈskriːt/adjective
1discreeter, discreetest
- careful and circumspect in one's speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offence or to gain an advantage（言行）谨慎的, 慎重的; 周到的：
we made some discreet inquiries.
我们做了些周详的询问。
1.1
- intentionally unobtrusive不显眼的, 不引人注意的：
a discreet cough.
轻咳。
USAGE
The words discrete and discreet are pronounced in the same way and share the same origin but they do not mean the same thing. Discrete means 'separate', as in a finite number of discrete categories, while discreet means 'careful and circumspect', as in you can rely on him to be discreet.
派生词
discreetly
adverbdiscreetness
noun词源
Middle English: from Old French discret, from Latin discretus 'separate'， past participle of discernere 'discern'， the sense arising from late Latin discretio （see DISCRETION）. Compare with DISCRETE.