poor
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++poor /pɔː $ pʊr/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective (comparative poorer, superlative poorest) 1 no money 没有钱POOR a) having very little money and not many possessions 贫穷的，贫困的 OPP rich Her family were so poor they couldn’t afford to buy her new clothes. 她家穷得甚至买不起新衣服给她。 an area where poor people lived 穷人居住区 one of the poorest countries in the world 世界上最贫穷的国家之一 a poor part of Chicago (=where a lot of poor people live) 芝加哥的一个贫民区 My grandparents grew up dirt poor (=very poor). 我的祖父母在赤贫的环境里长大。desperately/extremely poor Many of the families are desperately poor. 其中许多家庭极度贫困。 b) the poor [plural]POOR people who are poor 穷人，贫民 It’s the government’s responsibility to help the poor. 接济穷人是政府的责任。the rural/urban/working poor tax relief for the working poor 针对贫困打工族的减税2 not good 不好的BAD not as good as it could be or should be 不佳的，差的，次等的，低劣的 The soil in this area is very poor. 这一地区土壤很贫瘠。 poor rates of pay 很低的薪酬 He blames himself for the team’s poor performance. 他因球队的不佳表现而自责。of poor quality (=not made well or not made of good materials) 品质差的 The jacket was of very poor quality. 这件夹克质量非常差。poor hearing/eyesight/memory Her hearing is poor, so speak fairly loudly. 她的听力不好，所以你要说得很大声才行。make/do a poor job of doing something The builders did a really poor job of fixing our roof. 那些建筑工人为我们修房顶，活儿干得很糟糕。► see thesaurus at bad3 sympathy 同情 [only before noun] spokenUNLUCKY used to show sympathy for someone because they are so unlucky, unhappy etc 可怜的；不幸的；令人同情的 Poor kid, he’s had a rough day. 可怜的孩子，今天他真倒霉。 You poor thing, you’ve had a hard time of it, haven’t you? 可怜的东西，你过得很苦，是不是？ Poor old Ted was sick for weeks. 可怜的老特德病了几个星期。4 not good at STH 不善于某事的BAD AT not good at doing something 不善于…的，对…不熟练的，差的 a poor public speaker 拙于演讲的人poor at He’s poor at sports. 他不擅长体育运动。5 health 健康MIILL someone whose health is poor is ill or weak for a long period of time 〔身体〕虚弱的，衰弱的 My parents are both in rather poor health. 我父母的身体都很不好。6 poor in something NOT HAVElacking something that is needed 缺乏某物的7 a poor second/third etc LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WARthe act of finishing a race, competition etc a long way behind the person ahead of you 〔在比赛中〕被远远抛在后面的第二名/第三名等8 the poor man’s somebody used to say that someone is like a very famous performer, writer etc but is not as good as they are 蹩脚的某人〔表示某人像某著名艺人、作家等，但相形见绌〕9 the poor man’s something used to say that something can be used for the same purpose as something else, and is much cheaper 便宜的代用品10 poor relation British EnglishFAIL someone or something that is not treated as well as other members of a group or is much less successful than they are 同类中较次者 → be in bad/poor taste at taste1(4), poorly1n COLLOCATIONSadverbsextremely poorHis parents were extremely poor. desperately poor (=so poor that it causes great suffering)Half the population remains desperately poor.dirt poor American English informal (=extremely poor)We were dirt poor back then.adjectivesthe rural poor (=poor people who live in the countryside)Difficult economic conditions have driven millions of the rural poor to cities.the urban poor (=poor people who live in towns and cities)The condition of the urban poor could no longer be ignored.the working poor (=poor people who have jobs, rather than unemployed people)These tax-cut proposals are targeted at the working poor. THESAURUSpoor having very little money and not many possessions – used about people or places 〔人或地方〕贫穷的Many families were too poor to pay for education. 许多家庭穷得付不起学费。poor countries 贫困国家hard up/broke (also skint British English) [not before noun] informal having very little money, especially for a short period of time. Skint is more informal than the other words 〔尤指短期内〕拮据的,手头紧的〔skint 与其他词相比更不正式〕I’m a bit hard up at the moment 现在我手头有点紧。We were so broke we couldn’t afford to go out to the cinema. 我们穷得没钱去看电影。ndeveloping [only before noun] a developing country is poor and has very little industryThe disease is found mainly in developing countries.the developing worlddeprived [usually before noun] much poorer than other people in a country, and not having the things that are necessary for a comfortable or happy life – used about people and areas 〔人和地区〕贫困的The charity works with deprived children in the inner city. 这一慈善机构专门帮助贫民区的贫困儿童。one of the most deprived areas of London 伦敦最穷的地区之一disadvantaged especially written used about groups of people in society who have much less chance of being successful because they are poor 〔社会群体〕贫困的〔指因贫穷而缺乏成功的机会〕An increase in the minimum wage would help the most disadvantaged Americans. 提高最低工资能帮助最贫困的美国人。needy having very little money, and so needing help – used about groups of people 〔群体〕贫穷的,生活艰苦的More help should be given to needy families. 应该对贫困家庭提供更多的帮助。We offer scholarships for needy students. 我们向贫困学生提供奖学金。destitute especially written having no money or possessions and nowhere to live – used when someone is in a very bad situation 贫困的〔尤用于某人陷于困境时〕Her family was left destitute after her father died. 她父亲去世后全家人的生活就陷入了贫困。ndestitute refugeesimpoverished formal impoverished people and places are very poor 穷困的out-of-work miners and their impoverished families 失业的矿工及其贫困的家庭The children come from impoverished neighbourhoods. 这些儿童来自贫穷街区。none of the world’s most impoverished countriespoverty-stricken written extremely poor 极贫穷的poverty-stricken areas 赤贫地区They were left poverty-stricken. 他们一贫如洗。penniless especially literary having no money 身无分文的She died penniless. 她死时身无分文。a penniless student 贫困学生COLLOCATIONS CHECK 常用搭配deprived area/children/homes/backgrounddisadvantaged groups/children/students/backgroundneedy children/students/familiesimpoverished families/areas/countriespoverty-stricken areas/countries/people
Examples from the Corpus
poor• Attendance at the meeting was poor.• Her chances of recovery are poor.• Her mother grew up dirt poor among migrant workers in Alabama.• Poor baby. Come here and let me give you a cuddle.• The land around here is poor because of years of intensive farming.• People who live in poor countries have a much lower life expectancy.• She was born in a poor district of Chicago in 1925.• Elaine comes from a poor family.• The poor girl gets blamed for everything that goes wrong.• For the long term, today's crisis is obviously a poor guide.• The soil is very poor in minerals and needs some fertilizer.• These examinations are probably a poor instrument for measuring the quality of medical education because they concentrate on factual retention.• Should children attempt to read in poor light?• a poor math student• These cuts will hit the poorest members of society.• I often think of poor Mrs Carrow now.• a poor neighborhood• I hear poor old Steve broke his ankle.• In fact poor people have more at stake in preserving the resources they depend on.• We budgeted an improvement to 1991's poor results in anticipation of a recovery in the economy which never materialised.• The poor, sick, bereaved, came knocking at the door.• His memory is poor, so you may need to repeat things.• Most herbs grow fairly well in dry, poor soil.• The Scotts are so poor they can barely afford milk and bread.• They were so poor they couldn't afford to buy shoes for their children.• Some Democrats believed they lost the election because many poor women didn't turn out to vote.make/do a poor job of doing something• The script does a poor job of explaining the complicated sociopolitical machinations that many believe will accompany the end-time.Poor old• Those who do should go here. Poor old Babelfish wasn't much help.• She always preferred men in the house. Poor old Hilda - lost out there, as in everything else!• But the Globe burnt right down to the ground in an hour. Poor old John Heminges just stood there and cried.• Very low. Poor old Matt.• She hoped that she did not appear to others like a worthy cause. Poor old Meredith, all on her own.• Poor old Phil hasn't been on a date in years.• You can tell by the way she falls upon these offerings. Poor old thing.poor at• He's poor at reading.in ... poor health• Rumors were rampant that the octogenarian was senile and in poor health.• The South and some industrial states have higher index numbers, which means residents there are in poorer health.• Vincent had looked up Sien and been dismayed to find her and the children in poor health and deplorable conditions.• His wife was in poor health and would suffer if he was jailed.• Gerstung was not wealthy, Duncan said, nor was she in unusually poor health for a woman her age.• Who could blame a wife, herself elderly and in poor health, for suggesting suicide to her terminally ill husband?• At 72 and in poor health, he suffered a heart attack while police officers were still searching for clues.• The effects are more severe than oxygen depletion and may result in prolonged poor health in your fish.Origin poor (1100-1200) Old French povre, from Latin pauperpoor adjective →n COLLOCATIONS1 →THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChinese
possessions not very and many Corpus little money having
poor
poor S1 W1 /pɔː $ pʊr/
adjective (comparative poorer, superlative poorest)
a. having very little money and not many possessions
OPP rich:
Her family were so poor they couldn’t afford to buy her new clothes.
an area where poor people lived
one of the poorest countries in the world
a poor part of Chicago (=where a lot of poor people live)
My grandparents grew up dirt poor (=very poor).
desperately/extremely poor
Many of the families are desperately poor.
b. the poor [plural] people who are poor:
It’s the government’s responsibility to help the poor.
the rural/urban/working poor
tax relief for the working poor
2. NOT GOOD not as good as it could be or should be:
The soil in this area is very poor.
poor rates of pay
He blames himself for the team’s poor performance.
of poor quality (=not made well or not made of good materials)
The jacket was of very poor quality.
poor hearing/eyesight/memory
Her hearing is poor, so speak fairly loudly.
make/do a poor job of doing something
The builders did a really poor job of fixing our roof.
3. SYMPATHY [only before noun] spoken used to show sympathy for someone because they are so unlucky, unhappy etc:
Poor kid, he’s had a rough day.
You poor thing, you’ve had a hard time of it, haven’t you?
Poor old Ted was sick for weeks.
4. NOT GOOD AT SOMETHING not good at doing something:
a poor public speaker
poor at
He’s poor at sports.
5. HEALTH someone whose health is poor is ill or weak for a long period of time:
My parents are both in rather poor health.
6. poor in something lacking something that is needed:
The country is poor in natural resources.
7. a poor second/third etc the act of finishing a race, competition etc a long way behind the person ahead of you:
McLean won easily, and Benson was a poor second.
come (in) a poor second/third etc British English:
The Socialists came a poor second with 26.5% of the vote.
8. the poor man’s somebody used to say that someone is like a very famous performer, writer etc but is not as good as they are:
He was the poor man’s Elvis Presley.
9. the poor man’s something used to say that something can be used for the same purpose as something else, and is much cheaper:
Herring is the poor man’s salmon.
10. poor relation British English someone or something that is not treated as well as other members of a group or is much less successful than they are
poor relation of
Theatre musicians tend to be the poor relations of the musical profession.
⇨ be in bad/poor taste at taste1(6), ⇨ poorly
■ adverbs
▪extremely poor His parents were extremely poor.
▪desperately poor (=so poor that it causes great suffering) Half the population remains desperately poor.
▪dirt poor American English informal (=extremely poor) We were dirt poor back then.
■ adjectives
▪the rural poor (=poor people who live in the countryside) Difficult economic conditions have driven millions of the rural poor to cities.
▪the urban poor (=poor people who live in towns and cities) The condition of the urban poor could no longer be ignored.
▪the working poor (=poor people who have jobs, rather than unemployed people) These tax-cut proposals are targeted at the working poor.
▪ poor having very little money and not many possessions – used about people or places: Many families were too poor to pay for education. | poor countries
▪hard up/broke (also skint British English) [not before noun] informal having very little money, especially for a short period of time. Skint is more informal than the other words: I’m a bit hard up at the moment | We were so broke we couldn’t afford to go out to the cinema.
▪developing [only before noun] a developing country is poor and has very little industry: The disease is found mainly in developing countries. | the developing world
▪deprived [usually before noun] much poorer than other people in a country, and not having the things that are necessary for a comfortable or happy life – used about people and areas: The charity works with deprived children in the inner city. | one of the most deprived areas of London
▪disadvantaged especially written used about groups of people in society who have much less chance of being successful because they are poor: An increase in the minimum wage would help the most disadvantaged Americans.
▪needy having very little money, and so needing help – used about groups of people: More help should be given to needy families. | We offer scholarships for needy students.
▪destitute especially written having no money or possessions and nowhere to live – used when someone is in a very bad situation: Her family was left destitute after her father died. | destitute refugees
▪impoverished formal impoverished people and places are very poor: out-of-work miners and their impoverished families | The children come from impoverished neighbourhoods. | one of the world’s most impoverished countries
▪poverty-stricken written extremely poor: poverty-stricken areas | They were left poverty-stricken.
▪penniless especially literary having no money: She died penniless. | a penniless student
■ COLLOCATIONS CHECK
▪deprived area/children/homes/background
▪disadvantaged groups/children/students/background
▪needy children/students/families
▪impoverished families/areas/countries
▪poverty-stricken areas/countries/people
poor S1 W1 /pɔː $ pʊr/
adjective (comparative poorer, superlative poorest) Date: 1100-1200
Language: Old French
Origin: povre, from Latin pauper
1. NO MONEY Language: Old French
Origin: povre, from Latin pauper
a. having very little money and not many possessions
OPP rich:
desperately/extremely poor
b. the poor [plural] people who are poor:
the rural/urban/working poor
2. NOT GOOD not as good as it could be or should be:
of poor quality (=not made well or not made of good materials)
poor hearing/eyesight/memory
make/do a poor job of doing something
3. SYMPATHY [only before noun] spoken used to show sympathy for someone because they are so unlucky, unhappy etc:
4. NOT GOOD AT SOMETHING not good at doing something:
poor at
5. HEALTH someone whose health is poor is ill or weak for a long period of time:
6. poor in something lacking something that is needed:
7. a poor second/third etc the act of finishing a race, competition etc a long way behind the person ahead of you:
come (in) a poor second/third etc British English:
8. the poor man’s somebody used to say that someone is like a very famous performer, writer etc but is not as good as they are:
9. the poor man’s something used to say that something can be used for the same purpose as something else, and is much cheaper:
10. poor relation British English someone or something that is not treated as well as other members of a group or is much less successful than they are
poor relation of
⇨ be in bad/poor taste at taste1(6), ⇨ poorly
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poor having very little money; not having enough money for basic needs 指贫穷的、贫寒的、清贫的 ：◆ They were too poor to buy shoes for the kids. 他们穷得没钱给孩子买鞋穿。 disadvantaged having less money and fewer opportunities than most people in society 指生活条件差的、贫困的、社会地位低下的 ：◆ socially disadvantaged sections of the community 该社区社会地位低下的贫困阶层 needy poor 指缺乏生活必需品的、贫困的 ：◆ It's a charity that provides help for needy children. 这是一个为贫困孩子提供援助的慈善机构。 impoverished ( poorjournalism 新闻 指赤贫的、不名一文的 ：◆ Thousands of impoverished peasants are desperate to move to the cities. 成千上万赤贫的农民急切盼望搬到城里去。 deprived [ 指贫穷的、穷困的、穷苦的
poor, needy, impoverished or deprived? 用 poor、needy、impoverished 还是 deprived？
penniless ( having no money; very poor指一文不名的、穷困的 ：◆ He died penniless in Paris. 他死于巴黎，死时身无分文。 hard up ( having very little money, especially for a short period of time尤指暂时拮据、缺钱 ：◆ I was always hard up as a student. 我当学生时总是很拮据。
Patterns
poor/disadvantaged/needy/impoverished/deprived/penniless/hard-up people/families poor/disadvantaged/needy/impoverished/deprived areas poor/disadvantaged/impoverished countries a(n) poor/disadvantaged/impoverished/deprived background
poor having very little money; not having enough money for basic needs 指贫穷的、贫寒的、清贫的 ：◆ They were too poor to buy shoes for the kids. 他们穷得没钱给孩子买鞋穿。 disadvantaged having less money and fewer opportunities than most people in society 指生活条件差的、贫困的、社会地位低下的 ：◆ socially disadvantaged sections of the community 该社区社会地位低下的贫困阶层 needy poor 指缺乏生活必需品的、贫困的 ：◆ It's a charity that provides help for needy children. 这是一个为贫困孩子提供援助的慈善机构。 impoverished ( poorjournalism 新闻 指赤贫的、不名一文的 ：◆ Thousands of impoverished peasants are desperate to move to the cities. 成千上万赤贫的农民急切盼望搬到城里去。 deprived [ 指贫穷的、穷困的、穷苦的
poor, needy, impoverished or deprived? 用 poor、needy、impoverished 还是 deprived？
penniless ( having no money; very poor指一文不名的、穷困的 ：◆ He died penniless in Paris. 他死于巴黎，死时身无分文。 hard up ( having very little money, especially for a short period of time尤指暂时拮据、缺钱 ：◆ I was always hard up as a student. 我当学生时总是很拮据。
Patterns
poor/disadvantaged/needy/impoverished/deprived/penniless/hard-up people/families poor/disadvantaged/needy/impoverished/deprived areas poor/disadvantaged/impoverished countries a(n) poor/disadvantaged/impoverished/deprived background
especially