constraint
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++con·straint /kənˈstreɪnt/ ●○○ AWL noun 1 [countable]LIMIT something that limits your freedom to do what you want 限制，束缚，约束 SYN restrictionconstraint on Constraints on spending have forced the company to rethink its plans. 由于开支受到限制，这家公司不得不重新考虑其计划。 the constraints of family life 家庭生活的约束financial/environmental/political etc constraints There have been financial and political constraints on development. 发展受到了经济和政治上的限制。impose/place constraints on somebody/something constraints imposed on teachers by large class sizes 班级人数多给教师带来的限制2 [uncountable]CONTROL control over the way people are allowed to behave, so that they cannot do what they want 行为约束 freedom from constraint 不受约束n COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + constraintfinancial/legal/economic etc constraintsDuring the war, there were many physical and social constraints on citizens.time constraints (=the limited amount of time that is available)Exams are always done under strict time constraints.budget constraints (=the limited amount of money that is available)With any new project, you have to be aware of the budget constraints.a major constraintIn Egypt, the shortage of land and water is a major constraint on agriculture.a serious/severe constraintThe country's debts put serious constraints on its economic growth.a tight constraint (=a strict limit)They were operating within tight financial constraints.an important constraintTheir religious beliefs were an important constraint on their behaviour.verbsimpose constraints on somebody/somethingYou have to work within the constraints that the software imposes.place/put constraints on somebody/somethingLack of funding is putting severe constraints on research.free somebody/something from constraintsSummer vacation is a time when children are freed from the constraints of routine.phrasesbe subject to constraints (=be limited by them)Teachers are subject to the constraints of the examination system.be free from constraints (=not be limited by them)No film producers are free from the constraints of censorship.given the constraints on something (=because there are particular constraints on something)Given the constraints on space in the city, most people live in tiny apartments.Examples from the Corpus
constraint• The finance director gives committees advice on the authority's overall budget constraints for the next year.• In 1989, the Piscataway school district in New Jersey had to dismiss one high school business teacher because of budgetary constraints.• This may reflect lower evolutionary constraints on the structure of this region in the two proteins.• So this is a linguistic constraint.• They have called on the military to show constraint.• They may also be subject to similar constraints and failures.• This constraint may not apply to fundholding practices where, in addition to the obvious benefits to the patient, real financial incentives exist.• It is an unnecessary constraint, since without it the manager would do better.impose/place constraints on somebody/something• The layout of documents can provide additional information which also places constraints on the recognition process.Origin constraint (1300-1400) Old French constrainte, from constraindre; → CONSTRAINcon·straint noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
Corpus to freedom your something limits that
constraint
con‧straint AC /kənˈstreɪnt/
noun1. [countable] something that limits your freedom to do what you want
SYN restriction
constraint on
Constraints on spending have forced the company to rethink its plans.
the constraints of family life
financial/environmental/political etc constraints
There have been financial and political constraints on development.
impose/place constraints on somebody/something
constraints imposed on teachers by large class sizes
2. [uncountable] control over the way people are allowed to behave, so that they cannot do what they want:
freedom from constraint
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + constraint
▪financial/legal/economic etc constraints During the war, there were many physical and social constraints on citizens.
▪time constraints (=the limited amount of time that is available) Exams are always done under strict time constraints.
▪budget constraints (=the limited amount of money that is available) With any new project, you have to be aware of the budget constraints.
▪a major constraint In Egypt, the shortage of land and water is a major constraint on agriculture.
▪a serious/severe constraint The country's debts put serious constraints on its economic growth.
▪a tight constraint (=a strict limit) They were operating within tight financial constraints.
▪an important constraint Their religious beliefs were an important constraint on their behaviour.
■ verbs
▪impose constraints on somebody/something You have to work within the constraints that the software imposes.
▪place/put constraints on somebody/something Lack of funding is putting severe constraints on research.
▪free somebody/something from constraints Summer vacation is a time when children are freed from the constraints of routine.
■ phrases
▪be subject to constraints (=be limited by them) Teachers are subject to the constraints of the examination system.
▪be free from constraints (=not be limited by them) No film producers are free from the constraints of censorship.
▪given the constraints on something (=because there are particular constraints on something) Given the constraints on space in the city, most people live in tiny apartments.
con‧straint AC /kənˈstreɪnt/
noun1. [countable] something that limits your freedom to do what you want SYN restriction
constraint on
financial/environmental/political etc constraints
impose/place constraints on somebody/something
2. [uncountable] control over the way people are allowed to behave, so that they cannot do what they want:
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limit the greatest or smallest amount of sth that is allowed 指极限、限量、限额 ：◆ The EU has set strict limits on pollution levels. 欧盟对污染程度作了严格的限定。 ◆ the speed limit 速度限制 restriction ( a rule or law that limits what you can dorather
指限制规定、限制法规 ：◆ There are no restrictions on the amount of money you can withdraw. 取款没有限额。 control (often in compounds) the act of limiting or managing sth; a method of doing this （常构成复合词）指限制、约束、管理、管制 ：◆ arms control 军备控制 constraint ( a fact or decision that limits what you can dorather
指限制、限定、约束 ：◆ We have to work within severe constraints of time and money. 我们必须在时间紧迫、资金紧张的限制下工作。 restraint ( a decision, a rule, an idea, etc. that limits what you can do; the act of limiting sth because it is necessary or sensible to do sorather
指约束力、管制措施、制约因素、控制、限制 ：◆ The government has imposed export restraints on some products. 政府对一些产品实行了出口控制。 ◆ The unions are unlikely to accept any sort of wage restraint. 工会不大可能接受任何形式的工资限制。 limitation the act or process of limiting sth; a rule, fact or condition that limits sth 指限制、控制、起限制作用的规则、事实或条件 ：◆ They would resist any limitation of their powers. 他们会抵制对他们权力的任何限制。
restriction, constraint, restraint or limitation? 用 restriction、constraint、restraint 还是 limitation？
These are all things that limit what you can do. A restriction is rule or law that is made by sb in authority. Aconstraint is sth that exists rather than sth that is made, although it may exist as a result of sb's decision. Arestraint is also sth that exists: it can exist outside yourself, as the result of sb else's decision; but it can also exist inside you, as a fear of what other people may think or as your own feeling about what is acceptable.以上各词均表示限制规定。restriction 指掌权者所作的规定或法规。constraint 指现存的限制或约束而非作出的决定，尽管这种约束也可能是因他人的决定而存在。restraint 亦指现存的限制或制约因素，既可能指自身以外的因素，如他人的决定；也可能指自身因素，如担心别人的想法或顾虑自己的做法能否被接受 ：◆ moral/social/cultural restraints 道德／社会／文化制约因素 A limitation is more general and can be a rule that sb makes or a fact or condition that exists.* limitation 较通用，可指人为的规定，也可指客观存在的构成限制的事实或条件。
Patterns
limits/restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints/limitations on sthlimits/limitations to sthsevere limits/restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints/limitationstight limits/restrictions/controls/constraintsto impose/remove limits/restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints/limitationsto lift restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints