/'stægə(r); `stæˇɚ/
v
1 [I, Ipr, Ip] walk or move unsteadily as if about to fall (from carrying sth heavy, being weak or drunk, etc) 蹒跚; 踉跄; 摇晃着移动
*She staggered and fell. 她踉跄了几步, 跌倒在地.
* stagger to one's feet, across the room, from side to side 摇摇晃晃地站起来、走到房间的另一边、忽左忽右
* staggering along, around, about, etc 摇摇摆摆地走着、转来转去、四处走等. =>Usage at shuffle 用法见shuffle.
2 [Tn usu passive 通常用于被动语态] (of news, etc) shock (sb) deeply; cause (sb) astonishment, worry or confusion （指消息等）使（某人）震惊、担心或慌乱
*I was staggered to hear/on hearing/when I heard of his death. 我听到他死的消息大吃一惊.
3 [Tn usu passive 通常用于被动语态] place (sth) in a zigzag or alternating arrangement 交错安排（某事物）; 使（某事物）错开
*a staggered junction, ie a cross-roads where the side-roads are not directly opposite each other 旁侧路口不相对的交叉处.
4 [Tn] arrange (the times of events) so that they do not occur together 错开（时间）
*staggered office hours, ie arranged so that employees are not all using buses, trains, etc at the same time 错开的办公时间（以减低使用交通工具的拥挤现象）
* stagger the annual holidays 错开年假.

n unsteady staggering movement 蹒跚; 踉跄; 摇晃不稳的动作
*He picked up the heavy suitcase and set off with a stagger. 他提起沉重的箱子, 打个趔趄就走了.