/wɪt; wɪt/
n
1 (a) [U] ability to combine words, ideas, etc so as to produce a clever type of humour 用措辞、构想等产生巧妙幽默的能力
*have a ready wit 随时能说俏皮话的
* a journalist much admired for her wit 因机智幽默而备受敬重的女新闻工作者
* a literary style full of elegance and wit 涉笔典雅风趣的文学风格.
(b) [C] person who has or is famous for this; witty person 才思敏捷言语诙谐的人; 机智幽默的人
*a well-known wit and raconteur 一个有名的妙语如珠会讲故事的人.
2 [U] (also wits [pl]) quick understanding; intelligence 悟性; 智慧; 理解力; 智力
*He hadn't the wits/wit enough to realize the danger. 他悟性差, 没有意识到存在的危险.
3 (idm 习语) at one's wits' `end not knowing what to do or say because of worry or desperation 智尽能索; 张皇失措
*I'm at my wits' end worrying about how to pay the bills. 我怎样付清这些帐, 完全没有主意. a battle of wits => battle. collect/gather one's `wits become calm again after an unexpected shock, etc so that one can think clearly 镇定下来, 恢复理智
*I needed time to gather my wits before seeing him again. 我需要先镇定一下才能再次见他. frighten/scare sb out of his `wits => frighten. have/keep one's `wits about one be/remain alert and ready to act 时刻警惕; 随机应变
*You need to keep your wits about you when you're dealing with a man like that. 同那种人打交道得随机应变. live by one's wits => live2. sharpen sb's wits => sharpen (sharp). to `wit (dated fml 旧, 文) that is to say; namely 也就是说; 即
*He will leave at the end of term, to wit
30 July. 他要在期末离开, 也就是7月30日. ,wit and `wisdom combination of quick intelligence, good judgement and learning, esp in a writer or speaker 才思（尤指作家或演说家的）.

n

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1【amusing】
2【amusing person】
3 wits
4 frighten/scare/terrify somebody out of their wits
5 gather/collect/recover etc your wits
6 pit your wits against somebody
7 be at your wits' end
8 have the wit to do something
9 not be beyond the wit of somebody
10 to wit

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[Language: Old English;Origin:'knowledge, intelligence']
【AMUSING】[U]
the ability to say things that are clever and amusing
　a woman of great wit and charm
quick/dry/sharp etc wit
　His sharp wit had them all smiling.
【AMUSING PERSON】[C]
someone who is able to say clever and amusing things
wits [plural]
your ability to think quickly and make the right decisions
　Alone and penniless, I was forced to live on my wits .
keep/have your wits about you
(=be ready to think quickly and do what is necessary in a difficult situation)
frighten/scare/terrify sb out of their witsinformal
to frighten someone very much
　I was terrified out of my wits at the very idea.
gather/collect/recover etc your wits
to make yourself think about what you are going to do next after you have been surprised by something
　I felt helpless, but tried to gather my wits.
pit your wits against sb
to compete against someone in a test of knowledge or intelligence
be at your wits' end
to be very upset and not know what to do, because you have tried everything possible to solve a problem
have the wit to do sth
formal to be clever enough to know the right thing to do
　Thankfully, Reid had the wit to see what was wrong with the plan.
not be beyond the wit of sb
formal not be too difficult for someone to do
　It's surely not beyond the wit of man to come up with a solution.
to wit
old use or formal used to introduce additional information which makes it clear exactly who or what you are talking about
= namely
　This does not stop me giving you a little treat. To wit, an invitation to dine at Brown's.
→battle of witsatbattle¹ (5), half-wit
→live by your witsatlive¹ (15), outwit, quick-witted, witty