Unit Five, Learning from nature

lotus
/ˈləʊtəs/ n.[ C ]莲花，荷花

A lotus or a lotus flower is a type of water lily that grows in Africa and Asia.
荷花（莲花）是一种睡莲，生长在非洲和亚洲。

termite
/ˈtɜːmaɪt/ n.[ C ](also white ant)白蚁

Termites are small insects that do a lot of damage by eating wood.
白蚁是一种小昆虫，它们通过吃木头来造成很大的破坏。

mound
/maʊnd/ n.[ C ]土堆，沙石堆；小丘

The bulldozers piled up huge mounds of dirt.
推土机堆[duī]起了一个个大土堆。

algae
/ˈældʒiː/ n.(alga /'ælɡə/ 的复数)水藻；藻类

Algae are plants with no stems or leaves that grow in water or on damp surfaces.
藻类是生长在水中或潮湿表面的没有茎和叶的植物。

take (sth) for granted
/teɪk fɔːr ˈɡræntɪd/ 认为…是理所当然的

I just took it for granted that he'd always be around.
我还想当然地以为他总能随叫随到呢。

pine cone
/ˈpaɪn kəʊn/ n.[ C ]松果，松球

A pine cone is one of the brown oval seed cases produced by a pine tree.
松果是松树产生的棕色椭圆形种子盒之一。

tile
/taɪl/ n.[ C ]瓦片；瓷砖

Tiles are flat pieces of baked clay which are used for covering roofs.
瓦片是用于覆盖屋顶的烘烤粘土的扁平片。

architect
/ˈɑːkɪtekt/ n.[ C ]建筑师；设计师；创造者；缔造者

An architect is a person who designs buildings.
建筑师是设计建筑物的人。

mimic
/ˈmɪmɪk/ v.[ T ]（为逗乐而）模仿，学…的样子

She's always mimicking the teachers.
她总是喜欢模仿老师的言谈举止。

waterfront
/ˈwɔːtəfrʌnt/ n.[ C usually singular ]（城镇邻近河流或大海的）滨水区，水边地

They went for a stroll along the waterfront.
他们沿着海滨（河边）漫步（散步，溜达）。

promenade
/ˌprɑː.məˈneɪd/ n.[ C ](informal prom)散步的地方；散步的场所；（尤指）海滨散步道

A promenade is an area that is used for walking, for example, a wide road or a deck on a ship.
散步的地方是用于步行的区域，例如，宽阔的道路或船上的甲板。

plumbing
/ˈplʌmɪŋ/ n.[ U ]建筑物中的水管和类似的系统；管道；水管装置；管路系统

They had ensured the plumbing was overhauled a year ago.
他们曾保证水管一年前彻底检修过。

superb
/sjuːˈpɜːb/ adj.极好的，超级的，杰出的

The car's in superb condition.
这辆车车况极好。

biomimicry
/ˌbaɪəʊˈmɪmɪkri/ n.[ U ]仿生学

Biomimicry is the mimicking of life using imitation biological systems.
仿生学是使用模仿生物系统来模仿生命。

dioxide
/daɪˈɒksaɪd/ n.[ U ]二氧化物

Humans take in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.
人吸入氧气，呼出二氧化碳。

convert
/kənˈvɜːt/ v.[ I or T ]（使）改变，（使）转变；（使）改信；（使）皈依[guī yī]

The signal will be converted into digital code.
信号将被转变成数字编码。

frontier
/ˈfrʌntɪə/ n.[ C ]国境，边境 (the frontiers of sth: …的知识前沿；…的疆界)

The frontiers of something, especially knowledge, are the limits to which it extends.
某物的前沿，尤其是知识，是它所延伸到的极限。

pond
/pɒnd/ n.[ C ]池塘

She chose a bench beside the duck pond and sat down.
她选了鸭池旁的一张长椅坐了下来。

sow
/səʊ/ v.[ I or T ]播种，种

Sow the seed in a warm place in February/March.
二月或三月里把种子播种在温暖的地方。

wisdom
/ˈwɪzdəm/ n.[ U ]智慧；明智

Many Lithuanians have expressed doubts about the wisdom of the decision.
许多立陶宛人都已经对这个决定是否明智表示了怀疑。

seek solutions to
/siːk səˈluːʃənz tu/ 寻求解决方案

We determine to seek solutions to the problems.
我们决心寻找这些问题的答案。

take inspiration from
/teɪk ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃn frɒm/ 从……中获得灵感

People take inspiration from all kinds of things.
人们从各种事物中获得灵感。

employ
/ɪmˈplɔɪ/ v.[ T ](formal)使用，运用，采用

The group will employ a mix of tactics to achieve its aim.
该小组将采用多种策略来实现其目标。

bat
/bæt/ n.[C]蝙蝠

A bat is a small flying animal that looks like a mouse with wings made of skin. Bats are active at night.
蝙蝠是一种会飞的小动物，长得像老鼠，翅膀由皮肤制成。蝙蝠在夜间活动。

echolocation
/ˌekəʊləʊˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/ n.[ U ]（蝙蝠等动物的）回声定位

Most bats navigate by echolocation.
蝙蝠是靠回声定位法来导航的。

radar
/ˈreɪdɑː/ n.[ U ]雷达

They located the ship by radar.
他们用雷达确定了那艘船的位置。

swimsuit
/ˈswɪmsuːt/ n.[ C ](US also swimming suit)游泳衣，泳装

A swimsuit is a piece of clothing that is worn for swimming, especially by women and girls.
泳衣是一件游泳时穿着的衣服，尤其指女性和女孩穿的。

dragonfly
/ˈdræɡənflaɪ/ n.[ C ]蜻蜓[qīng tíng]

It looks like a blue dragonfly.
它看上去像只蓝色蜻蜓。

drone
/drəʊn/ n.[ C ]无人驾驶飞机

A drone is an aircraft without a pilot, controlled from the ground.
无人机是一种没有飞行员的飞机，由地面控制。

spider
/ˈspaɪdə/ n.[ C ]蜘蛛

A spider had spun a perfect web outside the window.
蜘蛛在窗外织了一张完整的网。

physician
/fɪˈzɪʃ(ə)n/ n.[ C ](mainly US or formal)(UK usually doctor)医生；（尤指）内科医生

He was a consultant physician, a serious man dedicated to his calling.
他是一位专家会诊医生，严肃认真，对自己的职业全身心投入。

superficially
/ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃ(ə)li/ adv.表面地，浅显地，肤浅地

The film touches on these issues, but only superficially.
这部电影触及了这些问题，但很肤浅。

bow
/baʊ/ v.[ I or T ]（使）鞠躬；（使）欠身；点头致意

They bowed low to Louis and hastened out of his way.
他们向路易斯深深地鞠躬并迅速给他让路。

rural
/ˈrʊərəl/ adj.乡村的，农村的；似乡村的

These plants have a tendency to grow in the more rural areas.
这些植物大多生长在偏远的乡村。

decent
/ˈdiːs(ə)nt/ adj.正派的；体面的，正经的；像样的，相当不错的；好的

I need a decent night's sleep.
我需要好好地睡上一夜觉。

cottage
/ˈkɒtɪdʒ/ n. 乡村小屋

They used to have a cottage in N.W. Scotland.
他们过去在苏格兰西北部有一间小屋。

deliberately
/dɪˈlɪb(ə)rɪtli/ adv.不慌不忙地，从容地

He spoke slowly and deliberately.
他不慌不忙、慢吞吞地说着。

withdraw
/wɪðˈdrɔː/ v.[ I or T ]抽回；取回；提取；撤回；撤离；退出；移回

There have been calls for Britain to withdraw from the EU（the European Union 的缩写）.
一直有人呼吁英国退出欧盟。

domestic
/dəˈmestɪk/ adj.非野生的，驯养[xùn yǎng]的；家养的

A domestic animal is one that is not wild and is kept either on a farm to produce food or in someone's home as a pet.
家畜是一种非野生动物，被饲养在农场生产食物或在某人家中作为宠物。

depressive
/dɪˈpresɪv/ adj.抑郁寡欢的；患抑郁症的

He's no longer a depressive character.
他不再是一个抑郁的人。

reluctant
/rɪˈlʌktənt/ adj.勉强的；不情愿的

Mr. Spero was reluctant to ask for help.
斯珀洛先生不愿意寻求帮助。

depart
/dɪˈpɑːt/ v.[ I ](formal)出发，动身，启程

In the morning Mr McDonald departed for Sydney.
麦克唐纳先生上午启程前往悉尼。

lane
/leɪn/ n.[ C ]乡间小路；小巷，小街，胡同

A lane is a narrow road, especially in the country.
小巷是一条狭窄的路，尤指在乡下。

atop
/əˈtɒp/ prep. 在……顶上

Under the newspaper, atop a sheet of paper, lay (lie 的过去式) an envelope.
在报纸下面的一张纸上放着一个信封。

mulberry
/ˈmʌlb(ə)ri/ n.[ C ]桑椹[ sāng shèn ]；桑树

A mulberry or a mulberry tree is a tree that has small purple berries which you can eat.
桑树是一种结有你可以吃的紫色的小浆果的树。

purity
/ˈpjʊərɪti/ n.[ U ]洁净，纯净，纯度；不含有害物质

The water is regularly tested for purity.
水的纯度定期受到检测。

resign
/rɪˈzaɪn/ v.[ I or T ]辞职；辞去（职务）；放弃（工作）

The President was forced to resign.
总统被迫辞职了。

botanical
/bəˈtænɪk(ə)l/ adj.(also botanic /bəˈtæn.ɪk/)植物（学）的；和植物（学）有关的

She was a frustrated botanical scientist.
她是个失意的（不成功的）植物学家。

reject
/rɪˈdʒekt/ v.[ T ]拒绝…的求爱；嫌弃；冷落；怠慢；抛弃

When her husband left home she felt rejected and useless.
丈夫离家后，她觉得遭到了抛弃而且无能为力。

ease
/iːz/ n.[ U ]容易，不费力；舒适，安逸，自在，悠闲

In his retirement, he lived a life of ease.
他退休后过着悠闲舒适的生活。

at ease with
/æt iːz wɪð/ 与……轻松地相处

I never feel completely at ease with him.
我跟他在一起总感到不是很自在。

attain
/əˈteɪn/ v.[ T ](formal)实现；获得；赢得；得到

Most of our students attained five 'A' grades in their exams.
我们大多数学生的考试成绩都是五个优。

fulfillment
/fʊlˈfɪlmənt/ n.[ U ]（因为你正在做你想做的事情）满足感；成就感

Fulfillment is a feeling of satisfaction that you get from doing or achieving something, especially something useful.
成就感是一种满足感，是你从做或完成某件事，特别是一些有用的事情中获得的。

evaluate
/ɪˈvæljueɪt/ v.[ T ]评估，评价；估值

The market situation is difficult to evaluate.
市场形势难以评估。

an example of
/ən ɪɡˈzæmpl əv/ 一个例子

Can you give me an example of what you mean?
你能给我举个实例来解释你的意思吗？

convert into
/kənˈvɜːt ˈɪntu/ 把……转变成；把……转化成

The hotel is going to be converted into a nursing home.
那家旅馆将被改建成养老院。

respond to
/rɪˈspɒnd tu/ 回答，作答；回应，作出反应

She never responded to my letter.
她从来没给我回过信。

in return for (something)
/ɪn rɪˈtɜːn fɔː(r)/ 作为……的交换；作为……的报酬；作为……的报答

Can I buy you lunch in return for your help?
感谢你帮忙，我请你吃午饭好吗？

draw...from...
/drɔː frɒm/ 从...获得或得到...

The announcement drew loud applause from the audience.
公告博得观众的热烈掌声。

reaction to
/riˈækʃn tu/ 对……的反应

What was his reaction to the news?
他对这消息的反应如何？

withdraw from
/wɪðˈdrɔː frɒm/ 退出；离开

The horse had been withdrawn from the race.
那匹马被停赛了。

resign oneself to
/ rɪˈzaɪn wʌnˈself tu / （因为你无法改变）听从于；顺从于

She resigned herself to her fate.
她只好听天由命了。