New words:

widen [ˈwaɪd(ə)n] v.拓宽;加宽;放宽;(使)变宽

由形容词 “wide”(宽的) + 动词后缀 “-en”(使… 变得)构成,字面意思是 “使某物变得更宽

核心语义围绕 “具体事物的宽度增加” 或 “抽象事物的差距、范围变宽” 展开。


必记搭配:

具体场景(物理宽度):

widen the street/road/bridge(加宽街道 / 道路 / 桥梁)
widen the river/channel(加宽河道 / 水道)
widen the gap/space(加宽间距 / 空间)
widen clothes/skirts(放宽衣服 / 裙子)

抽象场景(差距、范围):

widen the gap between A and B(扩大 A 和 B 之间的差距)
widen one’s understanding/horizons(拓宽某人的理解 / 视野)
widen the lead(扩大领先优势)
widen the divide(扩大分歧)

固定短语

widen gradually(逐渐加宽)
widen significantly(显著扩大)
continue to widen(持续扩大)

Sample Sentences:

Can you widen the gap between the two shelves?
The team’s victory widened their lead in the league.


gap [ɡæp] n. 差距;间隙;缺口;间隔

league [liɡ] n. 联赛;联盟;协会;种类

New words:

expand [ɪkˈspænd] v.扩大;扩展

由前缀 ex-(向外、超出) + 词根 -pand-(伸展、张开)构成,字面意思是 “向外伸展、超出原有范围

核心语义围绕“体积、规模、数量、内容等从原有状态扩大” 展开。


必记搭配:

具体场景:

expand the factory/company(扩建工厂 / 公司)
expand the photo/image(放大照片 / 图像)
expand the balloon(使气球膨胀)
expand the road(拓宽道路,与 broaden/widen 近义)

抽象场景(最常用):

expand vocabulary/knowledge(扩大词汇量 / 知识面)
expand business/market(拓展业务 / 市场)
expand population/numbers(增长人口 / 数量)
expand on/upon sth(详述某事)

固定短语:

expand rapidly(快速扩大)
expand gradually(逐渐扩展)
expand into other areas(拓展到其他领域)

Sample Sentences:

The balloon will expand when you blow air into it.
The company plans to expand its factory to make more cars.
She wants to expand her English vocabulary by reading more.


widen broaden expand extend易混词辨析

New words:

broaden [ˈbrɔd(ə)n] v.变宽;变阔;(使)扩大影响;增长(经验、知识等)

由形容词 “broad”(宽的、广阔的) + 动词后缀 “-en”(使… 变得)构成,字面意思是 “使某物变得更宽

核心语义围绕 “范围、视野、能力等从窄向宽拓展” 展开。


必记搭配:

抽象场景(最常用):

broaden one’s horizons(拓宽某人的视野)
broaden knowledge/skills(扩大知识面 / 拓展技能)
broaden one’s mind(开阔某人的心胸)
broaden business/career(拓展业务 / 职业领域)

具体场景

broaden the road/river/bridge(拓宽道路 / 河流 / 桥梁)
broaden the gap(扩大差距)
broaden a smile(咧开嘴笑,使笑容更灿烂)

Sample Sentences:

Traveling can broaden your horizons.
We need to broaden the road to reduce traffic jams.


New words:

security /sɪˈkjʊərəti/ n. 安全;安保;保障措施

secure 的名词形式 → “安全的状态保障安全的措施

必记搭配:

具体安保搭配:

security guard(保安)、security check(安检)、security system(安保系统)
data security(数据安全)、national security(国家安全)

抽象保障搭配:

sense of security(安全感)、social security(社会保障)
financial security(经济保障)、job security(工作稳定性)

动作搭配:

improve security(加强安全 / 安保)、ensure security(确保安全)
check security(检查安全性)、provide security(提供保障)

Sample Sentences:

They carried out security checks at the airport.

There are two security guards at the building’s entrance.


词根(-sur-/-sure-)常用单词分类

  1. 表 “保障 / 保险”(与 “规避风险、提供安全保障” 相关)
  2. 表 “确定 / 肯定”(与 “态度、判断上的确定性” 相关)
  3. 表 “安全 / 稳固”(与 “状态上的安全、稳固” 相关)

New words:

secure [sɪˈkjʊr] adj. 安全的;稳固的;v. 保护;获得

se- 加强 + -cur- = sur- (安全) → “高度安全的”,形容词表 “安全稳固”,动词表 “采取措施获得安全 / 某物”

如 “secure environment”(安全的环境)、“secure a job”(获得一份工作))


必记搭配:

形容词搭配:

安全 / 稳固类:secure house(安全的房子)、secure ladder(稳固的梯子)、secure job(稳定的工作)

情绪类:feel secure(感到安心)、be secure in one’s position(职位稳固)

动词搭配:

保护类:secure the building(保护建筑)、secure valuables(保管贵重物品)、secure the area(封锁区域)

获得类:secure a job(找到工作)、secure a loan(获得贷款)、secure a victory(赢得胜利)


Sample Sentences:

The safe keeps our money secure from thieves.
Make sure the ladder is secure before climbing.

He secured a good job after graduation.
We need to secure the windows before the storm comes.