sky
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++sky /skaɪ/ ●●● S2 W2 noun (plural skies) 1 DN[singular, uncountable] the space above the Earth where clouds and the Sun and stars appear 天，天空 The sky grew dark, and a cold rain began to fall. 天色转暗，开始下起冰冷的雨来。 A shooting star sped across the night sky. 一颗流星划过天空。in the sky There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. 天空晴朗无云。2 skies [plural]WEATHER a word meaning ‘sky’, used especially when describing the weather or what the sky looks like in a place 天空〔尤用于描述天气或某处的天空情况〕 a land of blue skies and warm sunshine 天空碧蓝、阳光和煦的一片土地 The skies were overcast, and it was chilly and damp. 天空阴暗，天气寒冷而潮湿。3 the sky’s the limit spoken used to say that there is no limit to what someone can achieve, spend, win etc 〔花费〕没有上限；〔成就、成绩等〕不可限量 Francis believes the sky’s the limit for the young goalkeeper. 弗朗西斯认为，这名年轻的守门员前途不可限量。 → pie in the sky at pie(4), → praise somebody/something to the skies at praise1(1) COLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2ADJECTIVES/NOUN + skyblue 蓝色的The sky was blue and the sun was shining. 蔚蓝的天空,阳光普照。grey British English, gray American English: 灰暗的,灰色的Rain was starting to fall from the grey sky. 灰暗的天空下起雨来。dark/black 黑暗的/黑色的Fireworks burst up into the dark sky. 烟花蹿升到漆黑的天空中。cloudy/dull/overcast (=with clouds) 阴天的Cloudy skies were forecast. 预报是阴天。bright/clear/cloudless (=without clouds) 晴朗的/无云的The sun rose higher in the cloudless sky. 太阳升得更高了,天空中没有一丝云彩。azure literary (=bright blue) 蔚蓝色的nThe sun shone out of a clear azure sky.nleaden/lowering literary (=with a lot of grey cloud)The leaden skies cleared and the sun came out.a starry sky (=with a lot of stars) 星空nWe had dinner on the terrace under a beautiful starry sky.the darkening sky (=becoming darker) 暗下来的天空nBenjamin stared up at the darkening sky.nthe lightening sky (=becoming lighter)A plane flew across the lightening sky.the night/evening/morning sky 夜晚/傍晚/早晨的天空nThe moon is the brightest object visible in the night sky.the summer/winter sky 夏日/冬日的天空nHer eyes were as blue as the summer sky.the open sky (=a large area of sky) 广阔的天空nThey lay on the ground under the open sky.na big sky (=a sky that looks large)Montana is still a land of big skies.verbsthe sky darkens 天空暗下来The sky darkened and thunder rolled in from the west. 天色变暗,雷声从西面滚滚而来。the sky clouds over (=clouds appear) 天空中云层密布The sky was beginning to cloud over. 天空中开始云层密布。the sky clears (=the clouds disappear) 天空放晴nBy dawn the sky had cleared.
Examples from the Corpus
sky• She ran through the last few streets and saw with relief the familiar tall building rising against the night sky.• Just being in the same sky with them made me nervous.• We all share the same sky and the same passion, which is to see our joint projects take to the air.• Yolanda looks up at the sky.• The darker the sky, the better chance of seeing the comet, he said.• The island has no roads, one cellular phone and a fresh water supply that comes from the sky.• The rocket shot up into the sky.• Two searchlights came on, brilliant sticks of light, prodding the sky.• The sky turned dark just before the storm.• The sky is full of tears tonight.in the sky• Seconds later sunlight flashed on metal and the aircraft appeared in the skies above them.• A twilight Saturday show will feature light displays in the skies.• There is menace in the sky.• The next he knew there was a shape in the sky to his left, moving fast towards him a little from below.• Everything was new to me: every smell was strange, every star in the sky seemed unfamiliar.• Perfect streets, but up in the sky.• I can not locate the bird, but I have the impression it is flying continuously high up in the sky.• When the shiny silver B-29s were in the sky, we children ran inside our homes immediately.nSky n → see Sky TVOrigin sky (1200-1300) Old Norse “cloud”sky noun →COLLOCATIONS1SkyLDOCE OnlineChinese
the Corpus Earth clouds the above where space
sky
sky S2 W2 /skaɪ/
noun (plural skies)
The sky grew dark, and a cold rain began to fall.
A shooting star sped across the night sky.
in the sky
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
2. skies [plural] a word meaning ‘sky’, used especially when describing the weather or what the sky looks like in a place:
a land of blue skies and warm sunshine
The skies were overcast, and it was chilly and damp.
3. the sky’s the limit spoken used to say that there is no limit to what someone can achieve, spend, win etc:
Francis believes the sky’s the limit for the young goalkeeper.
⇨ pie in the sky at pie(4), ⇨ praise somebody/something to the skies at praise1(1)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + sky
▪blue The sky was blue and the sun was shining.
▪grey British English, gray AmE: Rain was starting to fall from the grey sky.
▪dark/black Fireworks burst up into the dark sky.
▪cloudy/dull/overcast (=with clouds) Cloudy skies were forecast.
▪bright/clear/cloudless (=without clouds) The sun rose higher in the cloudless sky.
▪azure literary (=bright blue) The sun shone out of a clear azure sky.
▪leaden/lowering literary (=with a lot of grey cloud) The leaden skies cleared and the sun came out.
▪a starry sky (=with a lot of stars) We had dinner on the terrace under a beautiful starry sky.
▪the darkening sky (=becoming darker) Benjamin stared up at the darkening sky.
▪the lightening sky (=becoming lighter) A plane flew across the lightening sky.
▪the night/evening/morning sky The moon is the brightest object visible in the night sky.
▪the summer/winter sky Her eyes were as blue as the summer sky.
▪the open sky (=a large area of sky) They lay on the ground under the open sky.
▪a big sky (=a sky that looks large) Montana is still a land of big skies.
■ verbs
▪the sky darkens The sky darkened and thunder rolled in from the west.
▪the sky clouds over (=clouds appear) The sky was beginning to cloud over.
▪the sky clears (=the clouds disappear) By dawn the sky had cleared.
sky S2 W2 /skaɪ/
noun (plural skies) Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old Norse
Origin: 'cloud'
1. [singular, uncountable] the space above the earth where clouds and the sun and stars appear:Language: Old Norse
Origin: 'cloud'
in the sky
2. skies [plural] a word meaning ‘sky’, used especially when describing the weather or what the sky looks like in a place:
3. the sky’s the limit spoken used to say that there is no limit to what someone can achieve, spend, win etc:
⇨ pie in the sky at pie(4), ⇨ praise somebody/something to the skies at praise1(1)
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Good weather 好天气
be bathed in/bask in/be blessed with/enjoy bright/brilliant/glorious sunshine沐浴着／享受着明媚的／灿烂的阳光 the sun shines/warms sth/beats down (on sth) 太阳照耀着／温暖着／照射在… the sunshine breaks/streams through sth 阳光穿过… fluffy/wispy clouds drift across the sky 绒毛般的／一缕缕云彩在空中飘过 a gentle/light/stiff/cool/warm/sea breeze blows in/comes in off the sea 微风／轻风／强风／凉爽的风／暖风／海风从海上吹来 the snow crunches beneath/under sb's feet/boots 积雪在…脚下／靴子下嘎吱作响
Bad weather 坏天气
thick/dark/storm clouds form/gather/roll in/cover the sky/block out the sun 厚厚的云层／乌云／暴风云形成／聚集／大量聚集／遮住天空／挡住太阳 the sky darkens/turns black 天空变暗／变黑 a fine mist hangs in the air 一丝薄雾弥漫在空气中 a dense/heavy/thick fog rolls in 浓雾滚滚而来 the rain falls/comes down (in buckets/sheets)/pours down 下雨了；大雨倾盆而下；大雨滂沱 snow falls/comes down/covers sth 雪花飘落／覆盖着… the wind blows/whistles/howls/picks up/whips through sth/sweeps across sth 风刮／嗖嗖地刮／呼啸而过／愈刮愈大／刮过…／掠过… strong/gale-force winds blow/gust (up to 80 mph) 狂风大作（高达每小时 80 英里的速度） a storm is approaching/is moving inland/hits/strikes/rages 暴风雨即将降临／向内陆移动／来临／袭来／肆虐 thunder rolls/rumbles/sounds 雷声隆隆 (forked/sheet) lightning strikes/hits/flashes （叉状的／片状的）闪电袭来／闪过 a (blinding/snow) blizzard hits/strikes/blows/rages （令人目眩的）暴风雪袭来／大作／肆虐 a tornado touches down/hits/strikes/destroys sth/rips through sth 龙卷风袭击／摧毁…／撕裂… forecast/expect/predict rain/snow/a category-four hurricane预报有雨／雪／四级飓风 ( NAmE pour (down)/ ( BrE pour (down) with rain下瓢泼大雨 get caught in/seek shelter from/escape the rain遇上下雨；寻找避雨处；躲雨 be covered/shrouded in mist/a blanket of fog笼罩在雾霭之中／厚厚的一层雾中 be in for/brave/shelter from a/the storm即将遇到／勇敢面对／躲避暴风雨 hear rolling/distant thunder听到隆隆的／远处的雷声 be battered/buffeted by strong winds遭受强风肆虐；被强风吹得左右摇摆 ( BrE be blowing a gale在刮大风 battle against/brave the elements与恶劣天气搏斗；冒着风雨
The weather improves 天气好转
the sun breaks through the clouds 太阳破云而出 the sky clears/brightens (up)/lightens (up) 天放晴了 the clouds part/clear 乌云散去 the rain stops/lets up/holds off 雨停了／小了／延迟了 the wind dies down 风逐渐平息 the storm passes 暴风雨过去了 the mist/fog lifts/clears 薄雾／雾消散了
