/wɜ:ld; wɝld/
n
1 the world [sing]
(a) everything that exists; the universe 存在的一切事物; 世界; 宇宙
*the creation of the world 天下万物的创造.
(b) the earth with all its countries and peoples 地球及其所属的国家和民族; 世界
*a journey round the world 环球旅行
* travel (all over) the world 游历（全）世界
* The whole world would be affected by a nuclear war. 整个世界都会受到核战争的波及.
* the rivers and oceans of the world 地球上的河流和海洋
* Pollution is one of the most important issues in the world today. 污染问题是当今世界上最重要的问题之一.
* Which is the biggest city in the world? 世界上最大的城市是哪个?
* [attrib 作定语] English is now a world language, ie is used everywhere in the world. 英语现在是一种世界语.
(c) particular section of the earth 地球上的某部分; 世界
*the eastern/western world 东方[西方]世界
* the ancient world 古老的世界
* the Roman world, ie the part of the earth that the Romans knew 古罗马人的世界
* the New World, ie America 新世界（美洲）
* the Old World, ie Europe, Asia and Africa 旧世界（欧、亚、非三洲）
* the English-speaking world, ie those parts where English is spoken as the first language 说英语的地区.
2 [C] heavenly body that may be like the earth 近似地球的天体
*other worlds unknown to us beyond the stars 除已知星体之外, 我们不了解的其他天体.
3 [C] time, state or scene of human existence 人类生存的时间、状况或现象
*this world and the next, ie life on earth and existence after death 今世及来世
* the world to come, ie existence after death 来世
* It's a sad world where there is such suffering. 有这些苦难的地方就是个悲惨的世界.
* bring a child into/come into the world, ie give birth to a child/be born 生孩子[出世].
4 the world [sing]
(a) human affairs; active life 世事; 世情
*He showed no interest in the world around him. 他对周围的一切都不感兴趣.
* know/see the world, ie have experience of life 洞达世故[见世面]
* (rhet 修辞) How goes the world with you? ie How are your affairs going? 你的情况怎样?
(b) material or similar things and occupations (as contrasted with spiritual ones) 尘世（与精神世界相对）
*the temptations of the world 花花世界的诱惑
* She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent. 她决定弃绝尘世去当修女.
5 the world [sing]
(a) everybody (and everything) 每个人（及一切事物）
*He wanted to tell the news to the world. 他要把这件事告诉每一个人.
* The whole world seemed to be at the party. 聚会上好像每个人都来了.
* She felt that the whole world was against her. 她觉得人人都跟她作对.
(b) fashionable or respectable society 时髦的或上流的社会
*I don't care what the world thinks. 我不在乎上流社会怎样看.
6 [C] (often in compounds 常用以构成复合词) people or things belonging to a certain class or sphere of activity, interest, etc 属于某活动、兴趣等范围的人或事物; 范围; 界
*the world of art, politics, sport 艺术、政治、体育界
* the animal/insect world 动物[昆虫]世界
* the racing, scientific, theatre world 赛马、科学、戏剧界
* The medical world is divided on this issue. 医学界在这个问题上有分歧.
7 (idm 习语) be ,all the `world to sb be very dear or very important to sb 对某人来说, 非常宝贵或非常重要. be not long for this world => long3. the best of both worlds => best3. a brave new world => brave. come/go `down/`up in the world become less/more important in society, successful in one's career, etc or poorer/richer 落魄[发迹]; 变穷[变富]
*They've come up in the world since I last met them. 自从我上次见到他们以来, 他们已经发迹了. dead to the world => dead. the end of the world => end1. for all the world like sb/sth/as if... (usu expressing surprise 通常表示惊讶) very much or exactly like sb/sth or as if... 就像某人[某事物]; 好像...
*She carried on with her work for all the world as if nothing had happened! 她继续做她的工作, 就好像什么事都没发生过一样! (not) for (all) the `world whatever the inducement is or was 无论诱惑力有多大
*I wouldn't sell that picture for all the world. 我无论如何也不卖那幅画. how, what, where, who, etc on earth/in the world => earth. in the eyes of the world => eye1. (be/live) in a world of one's `own live a life of fantasy without communicating with other people 生活在自己的小天地之中. it's a small world => small. the John `Smiths, etc of this world (infml 口) people like the person whose name is given 像（说出名字的）这一类人
*`I hear Peter Brown's doing very well.' `The Peter Browns of this world always do well!' ｀我听说彼得·布朗近来很好.＇｀像彼得·布朗这样的人情况总是很好.＇ a man/woman of the `world person with a lot of experience of life, public affairs, business, etc, esp one who is not easily surprised or shocked 老成练达的人; 老成持重的人. the next world => next1. on top of the world => top1. ,out of this `world (infml 口) absolutely wonderful, magnificent, beautiful, etc 好得不得了
*The meal was out of this world. 这顿饭简直没治了.
* The scenery and costumes for the opera are out of this world. 这个歌剧的布景和戏装顶刮刮. the ,outside `world people, places, activities, etc that are not those of an enclosed community, group, profession, etc 外部世界（封闭式群体、组织、职业等以外的人、地方、活动等）
*working in a remote village cut off from the outside world 在一个与外界隔绝的偏僻村庄里工作. set the `world on fire (infml 口) be very successful and cause great excitement 极为成功并引起轰动
*She does the job adequately but she's not going to set the world on fire! 她工作做得不错, 但也不会有什么惊人之举! think the world of sb/sth => think1. watch the world go by => watch2. the way of the world => way1. what is the world `coming to? (used as an expression of disapproving surprise, shock, complaint, etc at changes in attitudes, behaviour, etc 在评论态度、行为等发生变化时, 用以表示不以为然的惊讶、吃惊、抱怨等)
*When I read the news these days I sometimes wonder what the world is coming to. 我阅读近日的新闻报道, 有时觉得事情未免太不像话了. a window on the world => window. with the best will in the world => best1. (all) the ,world and his `wife(infml 口) large numbers of people, esp when assembled in a place as guests, holiday-makers, etc 许多人（尤指聚在一起的宾客、度假的人等）
*The world and his wife were in Brighton that day! 那天在布赖顿市人山人海! the ,world, the ,flesh and the `devil (fml or rhet 文或修辞) all that is not holy; all that tempts mankind to wickedness 一切坏事; 诱人作恶的一切事物. the ,world is one's `oyster one is able to enjoy all the pleasures and opportunities that life has to offer 能尽情享受生活中的一切快乐与机遇
*She left school feeling that the world was her oyster. 她中学毕业了, 感到前途无限美好. a/the `world of difference, good, meaning, etc (infml 口) a great deal of difference, etc 极大的差别、好处、意义等
*There's a world of difference in the performance of the two cars. 这两辆汽车的性能有天壤之别.
* That holiday did him the world of good. 这次度假对他大有好处. the (whole) world `over in any place in the world; everywhere 世界上的任何地方; 各处
*People are basically the same the world over. 世界各地的人基本上都一样. (think) the world owes one a `living (think that) one has a right to be provided for because one deserves it or simply because one exists （认为）生来就得过舒服日子
*It's no use thinking the world owes you a living, you know. 你要知道, 光想着生来就得舒舒服服的, 那是白想. (be) `worlds apart completely different 完全不同
*We're worlds apart in our political views. 我们的政治观点截然不同.