impair
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++im·pair /ɪmˈpeə $ -ˈper/ ●○○ verb [transitive] HARM/BE BAD FORSPOILto damage something or make it not as good as it should be 削弱，损害，损伤〔某物〕 The illness had impaired his ability to think and concentrate. 这种疾病损害了他的思维能力和注意力。► see thesaurus at harm→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
impair• Making new memories is even more impaired.• Moreover, memory may be impaired for a variety of reasons, lack of initial attention is not the only possible explanation.• Cons: A great way to temporarily impair gastrointestinal processes to the discomfort of others.• The amount of alcohol he had drunk seriously impaired his ability to drive.• A lifetime spent with walking horses has permanently impaired his speech.• Profit figures become merely amounts which can be spent without impairing initial capital invested.• If a witness is allowed to withhold evidence, it impairs the legal process.• But as the subject's brain function becomes increasingly impaired these movements become more and more erratic.• Alcohol significantly impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.• Treat it with respect through - hitting scenery and objects costs time, and eventually impairs your vehicle's performance.Origin impair (1300-1400) Old French empeirer, from Vulgar Latin impejorare, from Late Latin pejorare “to make worse”im·pair verbChineseSyllable
as not make it it as damage something or Corpus good to
impair
im‧pair /ɪmˈpeə $ -ˈper/
verb [transitive]
The illness had impaired his ability to think and concentrate.
▪ harm to have a bad effect on someone or something: Many women said parenthood harmed their careers. | A little hard work never harmed anyone.
▪damage to harm something badly. Damage is more serious than harm: His reputation was damaged and his career was in ruins. | The affair has damaged people’s confidence in the government.
▪be bad for somebody/something to be likely to harm someone or something: Too much fatty food is bad for you. | All this rain is bad for business.
▪be detrimental to something formal to be bad for something: The new housing development will be detrimental to the character of this small town.
▪impair formal to harm something, especially someone’s ability to do something or the correct working of a system: Any amount of alcohol that you drink will impair your ability to drive. | His vision was impaired.
▪prejudice /ˈpredʒədəs, ˈpredʒʊdəs/ to have a bad effect on the future success of something: Don’t do anything to prejudice our chances of winning.
im‧pair /ɪmˈpeə $ -ˈper/
verb [transitive] Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: empeirer, from Vulgar Latin impejorare, from Late Latin pejorare 'to make worse'
to damage something or make it not as good as it should be:Language: Old French
Origin: empeirer, from Vulgar Latin impejorare, from Late Latin pejorare 'to make worse'
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damage to cause physical harm to sth, making it less attractive, useful or valuable; to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of success 指毁坏、破坏、伤害、损害 ：◆ The fire badly damaged the town hall. 火灾使市政厅遭到严重破坏。 ◆ emotionally damaged children 感情上受伤害的孩子 hurt ( to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of successrather
指伤害、损害 ：◆ Hard work never hurt anyone. 努力工作绝无害处。 harm to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of success 指伤害、损害 ：◆ Pollution can harm marine life. 污染会危及海洋生物。
damage, hurt or harm? 用 damage、hurt 还是 harm？
impair ( to damage sb's health, abilities or chancesrather
指损害、削弱（健康、能力或机会） ：◆ Even one drink can impair driving performance. 即使一杯酒也可能影响驾驶操作。
Patterns
to damage/hurt/harm/impair sb's chances to damage/hurt/harm sb's interests/reputation to damage/harm/impair sb's health to seriously/greatly damage/hurt/harm/impair sb/sthto badly/severely damage/hurt/impair sb/sth