common
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++com·mon1 /ˈkɒmən $ ˈkɑː-/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective 1 happening often 经常发生的COMMON happening often and to many people or in many places 常见的，普遍的 OPP rare Heart disease is one of the commonest causes of death. 心脏病是最常见的死因之一。common among Bad dreams are fairly common among children. 小孩做噩梦是很常见的。it’s common for somebody to do something It’s common for new fathers to feel jealous of the baby. 刚做爸爸的人忌妒自己的宝宝是很常见的。 ► Don’t say ‘It is common that ... ’ Say ‘It is common for ... ’ 不要说 ‘It is common that...’. 而要说 ‘It is common for ... ’ It is common for children to be afraid (NOT It is common that children are afraid) of the dark. 儿童怕黑是很常见的。► see thesaurus at normal2 a lot 大量的 existing in large numbers 大量的，常见的 OPP rare Daisies are very common flowers. 雏菊是很常见的花。3 same/similar 相同的/类似的 [usually before noun, no comparative]SAME common aims, beliefs, ideas etc are shared by several people or groups 〔目的、信仰、思想等〕共同的 people working towards a common goal 朝着共同的目标努力的人们 countries that share a common language 说同一种语言的国家common to a theme that is common to all her novels 她所有小说中的共同主题4 common ground facts, features, or beliefs that are shared by people or things that are very different 〔有分歧的人或不同事物的实际情况、特征或信仰等的〕共同基础，共同的立场common ground between There is a great deal of common ground between management and trade unions on this issue. 在这个问题上劳资双方有很多观点是一致的。5 shared by everyone 大家所共有的 [no comparative]EVERYONE belonging to or shared by everyone in a society 〔社会〕共有的，公共的common to These problems are common to all societies. 这些问题是所有社会的通病。 Joe was chosen as captain by common consent (=with everyone’s agreement). 大家一致同意选乔为队长。6 common knowledge something everyone knows 众所周知的事，常识 It is common knowledge that travel broadens the mind. 旅行能开阔眼界，这是众所周知的。7 the common good the advantage of everyone 共同的利益 They work together for the common good. 他们为了共同的利益一起努力。8 common practice USUALLYa usual or accepted way of doing things 惯例 It was common practice for families to attend church together. 全家人一起去做礼拜是惯例。9 ordinary 普通的 [only before noun, no comparative]ORDINARY ordinary and not special in any way 普通的，平凡的 common salt 食盐 The 20th century was called the century of the common man (=ordinary people). 20世纪被称为普罗大众的世纪。 He insists that he is a revolutionary, not a common criminal. 他坚持说自己是个革命者，而不是普通的罪犯。10 common courtesy/decency/politeness POLITEa polite way of behaving that you expect from people 通常的礼貌[礼节] It would be common courtesy to return their hospitality. 回报他们的盛情是起码的礼节。11 common or garden British English ordinary 普通的，一般的 SYN American English garden-variety12 make/find common cause (with/against somebody) formal to join with other people or groups in order to achieve something 〔为达到某种目的〕联合（某人/对付某人）13 common touch ORDINARYthe ability of someone in a position of power or authority to talk to and understand ordinary people – used to show approval 平易近人的品质〔含褒义〕14. social class 社会阶层 British English old-fashioned an offensive word used for describing someone from a low social class 粗鄙的，劣等的〔形容下层社会成员的冒犯用语〕 THESAURUScommon if something is common, there are a lot of them 常见的，普遍的Jones is a very common name in Great Britain. “琼斯”在英国是一个很常见的名字。Foxes are common in the area. 这个地区狐狸很多。nPersonal computers are nearly as common in American homes as televisions.widespread happening in a lot of places or done by a lot of people 分布广的；普遍的Racism is much more widespread than people imagine. 种族歧视远比人们想象的要普遍。nThe report claimed that the problem of police brutality was widespread.the widespread availability of antibiotics 抗生素的普及commonplace [not before noun] especially written common in a particular place or time – used especially when saying that this seems surprising or unusual 常见的，屡见不鲜的〔尤指看似令人奇怪或不同寻常〕Crimes such as robbery are commonplace in big cities. 在大城市，抢劫等犯罪活动司空见惯。Expensive foreign cars are commonplace in this Chicago suburb. 在芝加哥的这个郊区，豪华的进口车很常见。prevalent formal common in a place or among a group of people – used especially about illnesses, problems, or ideas 〔尤指疾病、问题或观点〕盛行的，流行的Flu is most prevalent during the winter months. 流感在冬季最为流行。nDepression remains one of the most prevalent health disorders in the US.nThis belief is more prevalent among men than women.rife /raɪf/ [not before noun] very common – used about illnesses or problems 〔疾病或问题〕普遍存在的,流行的AIDS is rife in some parts of the world. 在世界部分地区艾滋病非常流行。ubiquitous /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/ formal very common and seen in many different places – often used humorously in written descriptions 随处可见的〔常在书面描写中作幽默用法〕He was carrying the ubiquitous MP3 player. 他身上带着随处可见的MP3播放器。nIn Britain, CCTV cameras are ubiquitous.something is everywhere especially spoken used when saying that you can see something a lot in many different places 某物到处都有Images of the dictator were everywhere. 到处都有这个独裁者的画像。nMicrochips seem to be everywhere these days – even in washing machines.nOne of the first things you notice in Amsterdam are the bicycles – they’re everywhere.
Examples from the Corpus
common• The condition is most common among women aged 18 to 24.• Monkeys and apes are so similar that it is reasonable to say they have a common ancestor.• Foxes are very common around here.• My daughter says politics is boring, which is a common attitude among teenagers.• The Allies worked to defeat a common enemy.• It's very common for older children to feel jealous after the birth of a baby.• It's becoming more and more common for women to keep their family name when they marry.• Many of the more common forms of cancer can be treated successfully if detected early.• Students and faculty are working toward a common goal.• Personal computers are nearly as common in American homes as televisions.• Foxes are common in the area.• Petty theft and pickpocketing are becoming increasingly common in the city centre.• Dating agencies try to match people with similar personalities and common interests.• Luckily we all had a common language, English, which meant we could communicate with each other.• Olson is a very common last name in Minnesota.• It's a common mathematical error.• Jones is a very common name in Britain.• Malaria is particularly common near swamps where mosquitoes can breed.• A common reason for not hiring someone is their lack of writing skills.• Flatheads are a common type of fish and good to eat.common among• Osteoporosis, a bone disease, is common among older women.common to• These problems are common to all big cities.• The theme of the family is common to all Engle's novels.by common consent• We have social rights and duties that are defined by common consent.the common man• The song is a tribute to the common man.common2 ●●○ noun 1 have something in common (with somebody) SAMEto have the same interests, attitudes etc as someone else （与某人）有共同之处2 have something in common (with something) SAMEif objects or ideas have something in common, they share the same features （与某事物）有相同的特点3 in common with somebody/something SAMEin the same way as someone or something else 与某人/某物一样4 [countable]AREA a large area of open land in a town or village that people walk or play sport on 〔城镇或村庄里的〕公地Origin common1 (1200-1300) Old French commun, from Latin communiscom·mon1 adjective →THESAURUS1common2 nounLDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
or people to many happening often in and places Corpus many
common
com‧mon1 S1 W1 /ˈkɒmən $ ˈkɑː-/ 
adjective
OPP rare:
Heart disease is one of the commonest causes of death.
common among
Bad dreams are fairly common among children.
it’s common for somebody to do something
It’s common for new fathers to feel jealous of the baby.
► Do not say ‘It is common that ... ’ Say ‘It is common for ... ’ :
It is common for children to be afraid (NOT It is common that children are afraid) of the dark.
2. A LOT existing in large numbers
OPP rare:
Daisies are very common flowers.
3. SAME/SIMILAR [usually before noun, no comparative] common aims, beliefs, ideas etc are shared by several people or groups:
people working towards a common goal
countries that share a common language
common to
a theme that is common to all her novels
4. common ground facts, features, or beliefs that are shared by people or things that are very different
common ground between
There is a great deal of common ground between management and trade unions on this issue.
5. SHARED BY EVERYONE [no comparative] belonging to or shared by everyone in a society
common to
These problems are common to all societies.
Joe was chosen as captain by common consent (=with everyone’s agreement).
6. common knowledge something everyone knows:
It is common knowledge that travel broadens the mind.
7. the common good the advantage of everyone:
They work together for the common good.
8. common practice a usual or accepted way of doing things:
It was common practice for families to attend church together.
9. ORDINARY [only before noun, no comparative] ordinary and not special in any way:
common salt
The 20th century was called the century of the common man (=ordinary people).
He insists that he is a revolutionary, not a common criminal.
10. common courtesy/decency/politeness a polite way of behaving that you expect from people:
It would be common courtesy to return their hospitality.
11. common or garden British English ordinary
SYN garden-variety American English:
a common or garden dispute
12. make/find common cause (with/against somebody) formal to join with other people or groups in order to achieve something:
France and Russia made common cause against Britain.
13. common touch the ability of someone in a position of power or authority to talk to and understand ordinary people – used to show approval:
He’s made it to the top without losing the common touch.
14. SOCIAL CLASS British English old-fashioned an offensive word used for describing someone from a low social class
▪ common if something is common, there are a lot of them: Jones is a very common name in Great Britain. | Foxes are common in the area. | Personal computers are nearly as common in American homes as televisions.
▪widespread happening in a lot of places or done by a lot of people: Racism is much more widespread than people imagine. | The report claimed that the problem of police brutality was widespread. | the widespread availability of antibiotics
▪commonplace [not before noun] especially written common in a particular place or time – used especially when saying that this seems surprising or unusual: Crimes such as robbery are commonplace in big cities. | Expensive foreign cars are commonplace in this Chicago suburb.
▪prevalent formal common in a place or among a group of people – used especially about illnesses, problems, or ideas: Flu is most prevalent during the winter months. | Depression remains one of the most prevalent health disorders in the US. | This belief is more prevalent among men than women.
▪rife /raɪf/ [not before noun] very common – used about illnesses or problems: AIDS is rife in some parts of the world.
▪ubiquitous /juːˈbɪkwətəs, juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/ formal very common and seen in many different places – often used humorously in written descriptions: He was carrying the ubiquitous MP3 player. | In Britain, CCTV cameras are ubiquitous.
▪something is everywhere especially spoken used when saying that you can see something a lot in many different places: Images of the dictator were everywhere. | Microchips seem to be everywhere these days – even in washing machines. | One of the first things you notice in Amsterdam are the bicycles – they’re everywhere.
common2 noun
1. have something in common (with somebody) to have the same interests, attitudes etc as someone else:
I found I had a lot in common with these people.
four women with almost nothing in common
2. have something in common (with something) if objects or ideas have something in common, they share the same features:
The two games have much in common.
3. in common with somebody/something in the same way as someone or something else:
In common with a lot of other countries, we’re in an economic recession.
4. [countable] a large area of open land in a town or village that people walk or play sport on:
Boston Common
| I |
adjective Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: commun, from Latin communis
1. HAPPENING OFTEN happening often and to many people or in many places Language: Old French
Origin: commun, from Latin communis
OPP rare:
common among
it’s common for somebody to do something
► Do not say ‘It is common that ... ’ Say ‘It is common for ... ’ :
2. A LOT existing in large numbers
OPP rare:
3. SAME/SIMILAR [usually before noun, no comparative] common aims, beliefs, ideas etc are shared by several people or groups:
common to
4. common ground facts, features, or beliefs that are shared by people or things that are very different
common ground between
5. SHARED BY EVERYONE [no comparative] belonging to or shared by everyone in a society
common to
6. common knowledge something everyone knows:
7. the common good the advantage of everyone:
8. common practice a usual or accepted way of doing things:
9. ORDINARY [only before noun, no comparative] ordinary and not special in any way:
10. common courtesy/decency/politeness a polite way of behaving that you expect from people:
11. common or garden British English ordinary
SYN garden-variety American English:
12. make/find common cause (with/against somebody) formal to join with other people or groups in order to achieve something:
13. common touch the ability of someone in a position of power or authority to talk to and understand ordinary people – used to show approval:
14. SOCIAL CLASS British English old-fashioned an offensive word used for describing someone from a low social class
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| II |
noun1. have something in common (with somebody) to have the same interests, attitudes etc as someone else:
2. have something in common (with something) if objects or ideas have something in common, they share the same features:
3. in common with somebody/something in the same way as someone or something else:
4. [countable] a large area of open land in a town or village that people walk or play sport on:
