/kʌlt; kʌlt/
n
1 system of religious worship, esp one that is expressed in rituals 宗教的膜拜; （尤指）膜拜仪式
*the mysterious nature-worship cults of these ancient peoples 这些先民向大自然的神秘膜拜仪式.
2 ~ (of sb/sth) (often derog 常作贬义) devotion to or admiration of sb/sth 狂热的献身或崇拜
*the cult of physical fitness 对身体健美的狂热追求
* a personality cult, ie admiration of a person rather than of what he does or the office he holds 个人崇拜.
3 popular fashion or craze 时尚; 一时的狂热
*the current pop music cult 流行音乐的热潮
* [attrib 作定语] a `cult word, ie one used because it is fashionable among members of a particular (usu small) group 时髦用词
* an artist with a cult following, ie who is admired by such a group 有狂热追随者的艺术家.