/'ju:sfl; `jusfəl/ adj
1 that can be used for some practical purpose; serviceable or helpful 实用的; 适用的; 有用的; 有益的; 有帮助的
*a useful gadget, book, hint, acquaintance 有用的小机械、书、线索、熟人
* do sth useful with one's life 尽自己毕生精力做些有益的事
* Videos are useful things to have in the classroom. 教室里有录像设备是很有助益的.
2 (infml 口) competent or capable 能干的; 有能力的
*He's a useful member of the team. 他是该队的主力队员.
3 (idm 习语) come in handy/useful => handy. ,make oneself `useful help by performing useful tasks 做些有用的事来帮忙
*My nephews tried to make themselves useful about the house. 我的侄子都想帮我收拾收拾房子.

adj
helping you to do or get what you want
≠ useless
　The book is full of useful information.
　Bar charts are a useful way of looking at sets of figures.
　The Internet is becoming a useful tool for investors.
useful for
　Television is useful for making up your mind how to vote.
useful to
　information that may be useful to the enemy
　It may be useful to consider the data separately.
　The research may prove useful for applications in medicine and biotechnology.
　techniques that teachers have found useful
　Sometimes he would make himself useful in the kitchen by cleaning and tidying.
　She couldn't bear to throw away anything that might come in useful one day.
>usefullyadv

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COLLOCATES for sense 1
useful information/advice/tip
useful way of doing something
useful tool (=useful method or thing that you can use)
it is useful to do something
prove useful
find something useful
make yourself useful (=be helpful)
come in useful (=be useful)
serve a useful purpose/function (=be useful)

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