severe

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++se·vere /səˈvɪə $ -ˈvɪr/ S3 W3 adjective 1 SERIOUS SITUATIONvery serious 非常严重的 severe problems, injuries, illnesses etc are very bad or very serious 〔问题、伤势、疾病等〕很严重的 His injuries were quite severe. 他的伤势很严重。 She’s suffering from severe depression. 她患有严重的抑郁症。 The US faces severe economic problems. 美国面临严重的经济问题。 The storm caused severe damage. 这场暴风雨造成了严重的破坏。► see thesaurus at bad, serious RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say an injury, a problem etc is serious rather than severe: 在日常英语中,说伤势、问题等严重用serious,而不用severeHis injuries were quite serious. 他的伤势非常严重。2. weather 天气 severe weather is very bad and very extreme, and very hot, dry, cold etc 严酷的；恶劣的3 EXTREMEpunishment 惩罚 a severe punishment is very strict or extreme 严厉的，重的 Drug smugglers can expect severe penalties. 毒品贩子会受到重判。4 criticism 批评 severe criticism is very extreme and shows that you think someone has done something very badly 极其严厉的，苛刻的 The president came under severe criticism for his handling of the crisis. 总统对这场危机的处理方式受到了严厉的批评。5 difficult 困难的 very difficult and needing a lot of effort and skill 艰难的 The negotiations will be a severe test of his abilities. 这次谈判将是对他能力的严峻考验。6 UNFRIENDLYperson 人 someone who is severe behaves in a way that does not seem friendly or sympathetic, and is very strict or disapproving 严厉的，苛刻的 SYN stern His slightly severe expression softened. 他原本有点严厉的表情变柔和了。7 SIMPLE/PLAINplain 朴素的 very plain with little or no decoration 朴素的；简洁的；不加装饰的 a rather severe red-brick building 一幢相当简朴的红砖建筑 —severity /səˈverəti/ noun [countable, uncountable] We didn’t realize the severity of her illness. 我们没有意识到她病得这么厉害。n COLLOCATIONSnounssevere damageThe blast caused severe damage to the surrounding buildings.severe problems/difficultiesThe clothing industry has experienced severe problems in recent years.a severe injury/illnessShe had suffered severe head injuries.severe painHe was in severe pain and unable to call for help.severe depressionHe suffered from severe depression when he was younger.a severe case (=of a medical condition)Hospitalization is necessary in severe cases.a severe blow (=an event that has a very bad effect)The closure of the mine was a severe blow to the country’s economy.

Examples from the Corpus

severe• Many people feel the punishment should have been more severe.• She wore a severe black dress and no make-up.• More severe cases require identification of the bacterial types involved and selection of a specific antibacterial product.• Even those that survive are given a severe check and often produce poor growth.• The organization has been the subject of severe criticism for the way it treated its staff.• In any case, as soon as the story begins, the hero is projected into severe dangers.• Murayama leaves his successors a host of severe domestic problems.• severe economic problems• The victims suffered severe head injuries in the accident.• severe pain• There are very severe penalties for drug dealing.• Severe penalties will be imposed for late payment.• But a hint of how severe the cuts could be came in a recent memorandum from library budget planners.• A nearly stationary weather front encouraged severe thunderstorms to repeatedly form in the same places Monday night.• The weather station issued a warning for severe thunderstorms.• The sudden onset of severe weather conditions was thought to be a frequent result of disturbance to a site.Origin severe (1500-1600) French sévère, from Latin severus

se·vere adjective →REGISTER1 →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable

severe or are illnesses Corpus problems, etc injuries, bad very

severe
se‧vere S3 W3 /səˈvɪə, sɪˈvɪə $ -ˈvɪr/

adjective

Date: 1500-1600
Language: French
Origin: sévère, from Latin severus

1. VERY SERIOUS severe problems, injuries, illnesses etc are very bad or very serious:

His injuries were quite severe.

She’s suffering from severe depression.

The US faces severe economic problems.

The storm caused severe damage.
  REGISTER
    In everyday English, people usually say an injury, a problem etc is serious rather than severe:
   ▪ His injuries were quite serious.
2. WEATHER severe weather is very bad and very extreme, and very hot, dry, cold etc
3. PUNISHMENT a severe punishment is very strict or extreme:

Drug smugglers can expect severe penalties.
4. CRITICISM severe criticism is very extreme and shows that you think someone has done something very badly:

The president came under severe criticism for his handling of the crisis.
5. DIFFICULT very difficult and needing a lot of effort and skill:

The negotiations will be a severe test of his abilities.
6. PERSON someone who is severe behaves in a way that does not seem friendly or sympathetic, and is very strict or disapproving
SYN stern:

His slightly severe expression softened.
7. PLAIN very plain with little or no decoration:

a rather severe red-brick building
—severity /səˈverəti, sɪˈverəti/ noun [uncountable and countable]:

We didn’t realize the severity of her illness.

COLLOCATIONS

■ nouns
   ▪ severe damage The blast caused severe damage to the surrounding buildings.
   ▪ severe problems/difficulties The clothing industry has experienced severe problems in recent years.
   ▪ a severe injury/illness She had suffered severe head injuries.
   ▪ severe pain He was in severe pain and unable to call for help.
   ▪ severe depression He suffered from severe depression when he was younger.
   ▪ a severe case (=of a medical condition) Hospitalization is necessary in severe cases.
   ▪ a severe blow (=an event that has a very bad effect) The closure of the mine was a severe blow to the country’s economy.

🔑 se·vere

BrE

/sɪˈvɪə(r)/

🔊

NAmE

/sɪˈvɪr/

🔊

adjective

(

se·verer

se·ver·est

)