/kɔ:z; kɔz/
n
1 [C] that which produces an effect; thing, event, person, etc that makes sth happen 原因; 导致某事物发生的事物、人等
*What was the cause of the fire? 火灾是怎样引起的?
* Smoking is one of the causes of heart disease. 吸烟是引起心脏病的一种病因.
* Police are investigating the causes of the explosion. 警方正在调查爆炸的原因.
2 [U] ~ (for sth) reason 理由; 缘故
*There is no cause for anxiety. 不必忧虑.
* You have no cause for complaint/no cause to complain. 你没有理由抱怨.
* She is never absent from work without good cause. 她决不无故缺勤. =>Usage at reason1 用法见reason1.
3 [C] aim, principle or movement that is strongly defended or supported 极力维护或支持的目标、原则或运动; 事业
*a good cause, ie one that deserves to be supported, eg a charity 高尚的目标（应为之尽力的目标, 如慈善事业）
* He fought for the republican cause in the civil war. 他在内战中为共和事业而战.
* Her life was devoted to the cause of justice. 她为正义事业而献身.
4 [C] (law 律) question to be resolved in a court of law 诉讼的问题或事由
*pleading one's cause 辩护; 分辩.
5 (idm 习语) a lost cause => lose2. make common cause with sb => common1. the root cause => root1.

v [Tn, Tnt, Dn.n, Dn.pr] ~ sth (for sb) be the cause of (sth); make happen 造成（某事物）; 使发生
*Smoking can cause lung cancer. 吸烟可致肺癌.
* What caused the explosion? 爆炸是怎样引起的?
* The cold weather caused the plants to die. 天气寒冷冻死了植物.
* He caused his parents much unhappiness. 他弄得父母很不愉快.
* She's always causing trouble for people. 她总是给人添麻烦.

NOTE ON USAGE 用法
*The verbs cause, bring about and make indicate how a certain result, situation or event happens *cause、bring about、make均表示某结果、某情况或某事情是怎样造成或发生的. These verbs are used in a variety of patterns. 这几个动词可用于多种句型. Bring about and cause can be used with a direct object indicating the result *bring about和cause . Bring about is more formal and refers to a less direct cause *bring about较文, 所表示的因果关系不那么直接
*Smoking can cause lung cancer. 吸烟可致肺癌.
* The war brought about a reduction in the birth-rate. 战争导致出生率下降. Cause can connect the result with the person, etc affected *cause可指所产生的结果与所涉及的人等有关
*My car has caused me a lot of trouble. 我的汽车给我带来很多麻烦.
* His parents were caused a lot of worry by his laziness. 他很懒惰, 使父母大伤脑筋. Cause and make can be used with ( to +) an infinitive, but not in the passive *cause和make可与（to +）不定式连用, 但不可用于被动语态
*The pepper in the food caused me to/made me sneeze. 这食物中的胡椒味儿呛得我直打喷嚏. When make means `compel', it can be used in the passive (with to + infinitive) 当make意为｀迫使＇时, 可用于被动语态（与 to+不定式连用）
*They made him pay for the damage he had done/He was made to pay for the damage he had done. 那些人叫他赔偿由他造成的损失[他被迫赔偿自己所造成的损失].