Sap



GRE 蓝宝 Barron TOEFL

解释

GRE 红宝书

• n. 树液, 活力; v.消弱, 耗尽
• ［英］ n. 树液, 活力 ( vigor; vitality) ; v.消弱, 耗尽 ( weaken; exhaust)
• ［类］ 反义词: bolster ( 支持) ; fortify ( 支持)
• ［例］ The country was sapped by social decay.

Webster Collegiate

I. noun

• Etymology: Middle English, from Old English s?p; akin to Old High German saf sap
• Date: before 12th century
• 1.
  • a. the fluid part of a plant; specifically a watery solution that circulates through a plant's vascular system
  • b.
    • (1) a body fluid (as blood) essential to life, health, or vigor
    • (2) bodily health and vigor
• 2. a foolish gullible person
• 3. \［probably short for sapling\］ blackjack, bludgeon
• ? sapless adjective
• ? saplessness noun

II. transitive verb (sapped; sapping)

• Date: 1725
• 1. to drain or deprive of sap
• 2. to knock out with a sap

III. verb (sapped; sapping)

• Etymology: Middle French sapper, from Old Italian zappare, from zappa hoe
• Date: 1598
• intransitive verb
  • to proceed by digging a sap
• transitive verb
  • 1. to subvert by digging or eroding the substratum or foundation ; undermine
  • 2.
    • a. to gradually diminish the supply or intensity of <sapped her strength>
    • b. to weaken or exhaust the energy or vitality of <the illness sapped him of his stamina>
  • 3. to operate against or pierce by a sap
• Synonyms: see weaken

IV. noun

• Etymology: French sape, from saper
• Date: 1642
• the extension of a trench to a point beneath an enemy's fortifications

---