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    explanation

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    explanation

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    Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++ex·pla·na·tion /ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/ ●●● S3 W2 noun  1  [countable, uncountable]REASON the reasons you give for why something happened or why you did something 解释；理由explanation of/for Can you think of any explanation for this failure? 对这次失败你能想出什么解释吗？without explanation The concert was cancelled without explanation. 音乐会被无故取消。► see thesaurus at reason2  [countable]INSTRUCTIONS a statement or piece of writing intended to describe how something works or make something easier to understand 解释性说法；说明性文字provide/give an explanation The ability to give clear explanations is the most important quality of the ideal teacher. 清晰讲解的能力是优秀教师最重要的素质。explanation of I’ll try and give you a quick explanation of how the machine works. 我争取给你快速解释一下这机器的工作原理。 COLLOCATIONSverbshave an explanation 有解释Does the hospital have any explanation for why he died? 医院有没有对他的死因作出什么解释？give an explanation 给出解释The police gave no explanation for their actions. 警方未对自己的行动作出解释。provide/offer an explanation 作出解释This theory may provide an explanation for the origins of the universe. 这一理论或许可以解释宇宙的起源。ask for/demand an explanation 要求得到解释When I asked for an explanation, the people at the office said they didn't know. 我要求一个解释，可办公室里的人说他们并不知情。nFurious parents are demanding an explanation from the school.wait for an explanation (=expect an explanation) 要求得到解释nShe continued to stare at him in silence, waiting for an explanation.find/think of/come up with an explanation 找出/想出理由Scientists have been unable to find an explanation for this phenomenon. 科学家尚无法解释这一现象。owe (somebody) an explanation 应(向某人)作出解释I think you owe me some kind of explanation. 我认为你得向我解释一下。accept an explanation (=believe that it is true or correct) 接受理由The court accepted her explanation. 法庭接受了她的理由。nneed/require an explanationWe think the minister’s decision requires an explanation.adjectivesa possible explanation 可能的解释Can anyone think of a possible explanation for why this is happening? 为什么发生这样的情况，有谁能想出合理的解释吗？the most likely/probable explanation (=one that is probably true) 最有可能的解释The most likely explanation is that John missed the bus. 最有可能的原因是约翰没有赶上公共汽车。nThe most probable explanation is that the water was contaminated.an obvious explanation (=one that is easy to see or notice) 显而易见的理由There is no obvious explanation for his strange behaviour. 他的奇怪行为没有显而易见的理由。a reasonable/plausible explanation (=one that is easy to believe) 合理的解释Pilot error is the most plausible explanation for the crash. 飞行员失误是这次失事最合理的解释。a satisfactory/adequate explanation (=one that explains something completely) 令人满意的解释nA bank must offer an adequate explanation of all its charges.a convincing/credible explanation (=one that you can believe is true) 令人信服的理由nThe author fails to provide a convincing explanation for the main character’s motives.a logical/rational explanation (=one that is based on facts) 合乎逻辑/合理的解释nPhysics finally gave us a rational explanation for the atom’s strange behaviour.further explanation (=additional reasons) 补充说明nHe gave no further explanation for leaving, and she did not ask for any.nphrasesthere is no apparent explanation (=used when there is no explanation that you can think of)There was no apparent explanation for the attack.
    Examples from the Corpus
    explanation• Unless Guy came up with an acceptable explanation, the entire Court would be gossiping about them.• Students can rewrite an explanation for a different audience, such as their younger brothers and sisters.• Does the as-if strategy of pragmatism allow a better explanation?• Our guide gave us a detailed explanation of the system of government.• Some of these critiques give mono-casual, but most give multi-dimensional, explanations of the links between law and society.• Coach Green wasn't willing to accept his explanation.• One can go to the thousands of human societies and find ingenious explanations for each incidence of masculinity and femininity.• He offered no explanation for his absence at the previous day's meeting.• She offered no explanation as to why she had left so suddenly.• The kind of explanation we come up with must not contradict the laws of physics.• I don't know why he tested positive for drugs. The only explanation I can think of is that the samples got mixed up.• There are several possible explanations for girls' superior high school performance.• Can you give us a quick explanation of how it works?• This can be ascribed to the absence of any craft-related explanation of the changes.• Each diagram is followed by a simple explanation.• What was their explanation for their decision?• Scientists have offered various explanations for these changes in climate.• The people who consider themselves to be pentecostals are uncomfortable with explanations of their movement that seem to explain it away.• This work should have been finished a week ago. What's your explanation?explanation of/for• For instance, while brain cells do die and are not replaced, their loss is not an explanation for senility.• It suggests therefore that there is another explanation for such behaviour.• He offered another explanation for why Sen.• The principles of learning theory provide a prima-facie explanation of the linguistic changes which occur during childhood.• At the same time, it is not alone in the field: there are alternative mystical explanations of misfortune.• In my view, the above-quoted explanations for the poor showing, although valid, are too superficial.• Either way, there has to be some rational explanation of Clinton's conduct.• This can be ascribed to the absence of any craft-related explanation of the changes.provide/give an explanation• This will involve some such task as giving an explanation of difficulties, requesting clarification, writing an apology, etc.• Recent genetic studies have provided an explanation for this variation.• Associative learning provides explanations for basic forms of learning.• However, they may provide an explanation of the observed value of one very important quantity: the so-called cosmological constant.• The level at which theism provides an explanation is the very general level of metaphysics.• And they had to provide an explanation if they took any longer than five minutes.• This theory enables one to give an explanation for the existence of the universe, in terms of a goal or purpose.• I want to give an explanation of my own experience described there.
    ex·pla·na·tion noun →COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
    give for Corpus you happened reasons the why something or


    explanation
    ex‧pla‧na‧tion S3 W2 /ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/ noun
     Word Family: adjective: unexplained, explanatory, explicable ≠ inexplicable; noun: explaining, explanation; verb: explain; adverb: inexplicably
    1. [uncountable and countable] the reasons you give for why something happened or why you did something
        explanation of/for
        Can you think of any explanation for this failure?
        without explanation
        The concert was cancelled without explanation.
    2. [countable] a statement or piece of writing intended to describe how something works or make something easier to understand
        provide/give an explanation
        The ability to give clear explanations is the most important quality of the ideal teacher.
        explanation of
        I’ll try and give you a quick explanation of how the machine works.
         
    COLLOCATIONS
    ■ verbs
       ▪ have an explanation Does the hospital have any explanation for why he died?
       ▪ give an explanation The police gave no explanation for their actions.
       ▪ provide/offer an explanation This theory may provide an explanation for the origins of the universe.
       ▪ ask for/demand an explanation When I asked for an explanation, the people at the office said they didn't know. | Furious parents are demanding an explanation from the school.
       ▪ wait for an explanation (=expect an explanation) She continued to stare at him in silence, waiting for an explanation.
       ▪ find/think of/come up with an explanation Scientists have been unable to find an explanation for this phenomenon.
       ▪ owe (somebody) an explanation I think you owe me some kind of explanation.
       ▪ accept an explanation (=believe that it is true or correct) The court accepted her explanation.
       ▪ need/require an explanation We think the minister’s decision requires an explanation.
    ■ adjectives
       ▪ a possible explanation Can anyone think of a possible explanation for why this is happening?
       ▪ the most likely/probable explanation (=one that is probably true) The most likely explanation is that John missed the bus. | The most probable explanation is that the water was contaminated.
       ▪ an obvious explanation (=one that is easy to see or notice) There is no obvious explanation for his strange behaviour.
       ▪ a reasonable/plausible explanation (=one that is easy to believe) Pilot error is the most plausible explanation for the crash.
       ▪ a satisfactory/adequate explanation (=one that explains something completely) A bank must offer an adequate explanation of all its charges.
       ▪ a convincing/credible explanation (=one that you can believe is true) The author fails to provide a convincing explanation for the main character’s motives.
       ▪ a logical/rational explanation (=one that is based on facts) Physics finally gave us a rational explanation for the atom’s strange behaviour.
       ▪ further explanation (=additional reasons) He gave no further explanation for leaving, and she did not ask for any.
    ■ phrases
       ▪ there is no apparent explanation (=used when there is no explanation that you can think of) There was no apparent explanation for the attack.
         
    THESAURUS
       ▪ reason why something happens, or why someone does something: What was the reason for the delay? | I don’t know the reason why he left his last job.
       ▪ explanation a set of reasons that helps you to understand why something happens, especially when it seems difficult to understand: There are various possible explanations for climate change. | Is there any explanation for his behavior?
       ▪ motive a reason that makes someone decide to do something – often used about crimes: Police say that there is no obvious motive for the attack.
       ▪ justification a good reason for doing something that seems wrong: There is never any justification for torture or abuse. | They try to use the situation in the Middle East as a justification for killing innocent civilians. | There’s no justification for this type of behaviour.
       ▪ grounds a reason that makes it right or fair to do something, especially according to legal, official, or moral rules: The court will decide if she has grounds for divorce. | They claim the war is justified on moral grounds (=because of moral reasons).
       ▪ basis the main ideas or reasons on which something is based: The doctor makes his decisions purely on the basis of clinical observation. | What do you think is the basis for this advice?
       ▪ rationale /ˌræʃəˈnɑːl $ -ˈnæl/ formal a set of reasons that are used to explain why someone does something in a particular way: the rationale behind the government’s economic reforms | This chapter explains the nature of yearly plans, and provides a rationale for their use.


    🔑 ex·plan·ationBrE /ˌekspləˈneɪʃn/ 🔊NAmE /ˌekspləˈneɪʃn/ 🔊 noun🔑 [countable, uncountable] a statement, fact, or situation that tells you why sth happened; a reason given for sth 解释；说明；阐述◆The most likely explanation is that his plane was delayed. 最可能的解释是他的飞机晚点了。🔊🔊◆to offer/provide an explanation 给予解释◆~ (for sth) I can't think of any possible explanation for his absence. 我想不出他缺席的任何理由。🔊🔊◆~ (for doing sth) She didn't give an adequate explanation for being late. 她没有给出充分的理由说明迟到的原因。🔊🔊◆~ (of sth) The book opens with an explanation of why some drugs are banned. 本书在开篇阐述了禁用某些药物的原因。🔊🔊◆~ (as to why…) an explanation as to why he had left early关于他提早离开的原因说明◆She left the room abruptly without explanation. 她未作解释就突然离开了房间。🔊🔊◆'I had to see you,' he said, by way of explanation. “我当时必须来找你。” 他解释道。🔊🔊<titled tranID="36" status="1">reason</titled>explanation ◇ grounds ◇ basis ◇ excuse ◇ motive ◇ justification ◇ pretext

    These are all words for a cause or an explanation for sth that has happened or that sb has done. 以上各词均指事情发生或做某事的原因、理由、解释。

    • reason a cause or an explanation for sth that has happened or that sb has done; a fact that makes it right or fair to do sth 指某事发生或做某事的原因、理由、解释、道理：◆He said no but he didn't give a reason. 他说不行，但没有说明原因。
    • explanation a statement, fact or situation that tells you why sth has happened; a reason given for sth 指解释、说明、阐述：◆The most likely explanation is that his plane was delayed. 最可能的解释是他的飞机晚点了。◆She left the room abruptly without explanation. 她未作解释就突然离开了房间。
    • grounds (rather formal) a good or true reason for saying, doing or believing sth 指说、做或相信某事的充分理由、根据：◆You have no grounds for complaint. 你没有理由抱怨。
    • basis (rather formal) the reason why people take a particular action 指原因、缘由：◆On what basis will this decision be made? 将基于何种原因作出这一决定呢？
    • excuse a reason, either true or invented, that you give to explain or defend your behaviour; a good reason that you give for doing sth that you want to do for other reasons 指为自己行为所作的辩护、借口、理由：◆Late again! What's your excuse this time? 又迟到了！你这次有什么借口？◆It gave me an excuse to take the car. 这使我有理由开车去了。
    • motive a reason that explains sb's behaviour 指动机、原因：◆There seemed to be no motive for the murder. 这起谋杀案看不出有什么动机。
    • justification (rather formal) a good reason why sth exists or is done 指事物存在或做某事的正当理由：◆I can see no possible justification for any further tax increases. 我看不出还能提出什么理由来加税了。

    grounds or justification? 用 grounds 还是 justification？

    Justification is used to talk about finding or understanding reasons for actions, or trying to explain why it is a good idea to do sth. It is often used with words like little, no, some, every, without, and not any. Grounds is used more for talking about reasons that already exist, or that have already been decided, for example by law: moral/economic grounds. * justification 用来表示找出或明白做事的理由，或解释要做的事，常与 little、no、some、every、without 和 not any 等词连用。grounds 多指已存在的原因或已决定的（如法律上的）根据：moral/economic grounds（道德／经济原因）。

    • pretext (rather formal) a false reason that you give for doing sth, usually sth bad, in order to hide the real reason 指为掩盖做某事（通常为不好的事）的真正理由而找的借口、托辞：◆He left the party early on the pretext of having to work. 他借口有事要处理，早早离开了聚会。

    Patterns

    • (a/an) reason/explanation/grounds/basis/excuse/motive/justification/pretext for sth
    • the reason/motive behind sth
    • on the grounds/basis/pretext of/that…
    • (a) good/valid reason/explanation/grounds/excuse/motive/justification
    🔑 [countable] a statement or piece of writing that tells you how sth works or makes sth easier to understand 解释性说法；说明性文字◆For a full explanation of how the machine works, turn to page 5. 关于机器工作原理的详细说明，请翻阅第 5 页。🔊🔊