abyss
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++a·byss /əˈbɪs/ noun [countable] 1 DANGEROUSa very dangerous or frightening situation 险恶的局面abyss of The country might plunge into the abyss of economic ruin. 这个国家也许会陷入经济崩溃的危险境地。 At that time Bosnia was standing on the edge of an abyss. 那时候的波斯尼亚如临深渊。2. SGa deep empty hole in the ground 深渊3 DIFFERENTa very big difference that separates two people or groups 鸿沟 the gaping abyss between these grand buildings and my own miserable home 这些高楼大厦和自家陋室的天壤之别
Examples from the Corpus
abyss• Critics accused Yeltsin of leading the country into an abyss.• Matthew found himself standing at the edge of a deep abyss.• The economic abyss between developed and undeveloped countries is widening.• It surpasses even the natural abysses of the ocean floor.• Bushnell stood on the rim of the canyon, with the rocky abyss behind him.• Penelope felt a sunken abyss within her gorged with sadness.• Reason says the same laws of economics that brought the market down should keep it from spiraling into the abyss.• Behind him is the abyss, the gaping cavern of the gold mine, down and down into the earth.• He remembered Hause Point, he remembered the abyss he had so often fallen into.• Without such works of grace the world would rush even more rapidly towards the abyss.abyss of• the abyss of warOrigin abyss (1300-1400) Late Latin abyssus, from Greek, from abyssos “bottomless”, from a- “without” + byssos “depth”a·byss nounChineseSyllable
or a Corpus situation dangerous very frightening
abyss
a‧byss /əˈbɪs/
noun [countable]
abyss of
The country might plunge into the abyss of economic ruin.
At that time Bosnia was standing on the edge of an abyss.
2. a deep empty hole in the ground
3. a very big difference that separates two people or groups:
the gaping abyss between these grand buildings and my own miserable home
a‧byss /əˈbɪs/
noun [countable] Date: 1300-1400
Language: Late Latin
Origin: abyssus, from Greek, from abyssos 'bottomless', from a- 'without' + byssos 'depth'
1. a very dangerous or frightening situationLanguage: Late Latin
Origin: abyssus, from Greek, from abyssos 'bottomless', from a- 'without' + byssos 'depth'
abyss of
2. a deep empty hole in the ground
3. a very big difference that separates two people or groups: