/'pæsɪv; `pæsɪv/
adj
1 not active; submissive 被动的; 消极的
*play a passive role in a marriage 在婚姻中扮演被动的角色
* passive obedience, acceptance 消极的服从、接受
* passive smoking, ie breathing in fumes from tobacco being smoked by others 被动吸烟（吸进他人喷出的烟）.
2 showing no interest, initiative or forceful qualities 冷淡的; 不主动的
*a passive audience 无精打采的听众
* He had a passive expression on his face. 他脸上有一种漠然的表情.
3 of the form of a verb used when the grammatical subject is affected by the action of the verb, as in Her leg was broken and He was bitten by a dog 被动的, 被动语态的（如Her leg was broken和He was bitten by a dog两句中的动词形式）
*a passive sentence 被动句. Cf 参看 active.

n [sing] (also ,passive `voice) (grammar) passive(3) form of a verb (phrase) or sentence 动词被动形式; 被动句; 被动语态
*In the sentence `He was seen there', `was seen' is in the passive. 在 He was seen there 句中的 was seen 是被动形式. Cf 参看 active voice (active).