stern

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++stern1 /stɜːn $ stɜːrn/ ●○○ adjective  1  STRICTserious and strict, and showing strong disapproval of someone’s behaviour 严格的，苛刻的 sterner penalties for drug offences 对毒品犯罪的更为严厉的惩罚stern look/voice/expression etc ‘Wait!’ I shouted in my sternest voice. “且慢！”我厉声喊道。stern warning/rebuke His actions have earned him stern rebukes from human rights organizations. 他的行为招致人权组织的严厉指责。► see thesaurus at strict2  be made of sterner stuff to have a strong character and be more determined than other people to succeed in a difficult situation 〔遇到困难时〕具有坚强的性格，有坚定的决心 Ann, made of sterner stuff than I, refused all offers of help. 安比我性格坚强，她拒绝一切帮助。 —sternly adverb —sternness noun [uncountable]

Examples from the Corpus

stern• Sundram insisted the act was a reasonable response to the stern anti-drug law approved under then Gov.• Sheila walked into the museum, under the stern gaze of the curator.• a stern judge• A stern judgment indeed, but an accurate one none the less.• And she had also forgotten the stern lecture she had given herself earlier, she thought despairingly.• Her grandfather was a stern man who rarely smiled.• But Thursday morning beaming managers were replaced by stern security guards who refused to even let workers into the building.• This time, however, the opposition was made of sterner stuff.• But he reminded reporters of the stern warnings issued Sunday by Gen.• The uniforms were different but the faces were the same: narrow and stern with a hint of cruelty in the eyes.stern look/voice/expression etc• He spoke in a stern voice, nodding to-wards the stairs.• From within the universities there were stern voices of anti-vocationalism and resistance to public demands for responsiveness, strengthening the impression.• The Soviet boy stands straight, and salutes us with a stern expression on his face.• A stern voice spoke of the significance of this moment, the victorious Allied forces coming together in Berlin.

Related topics: Water

stern2 noun [countable usually singular]  TTWthe back of a ship 船尾，艉部 → bow

Examples from the Corpus

stern• There was a mass of shipping in the port, small skiffs, boats, the huge heavy-bottomed sterns of Hanseatic merchantmen.• Marina was sat in the stern, the wind moving her hair as she looked out over the water.• The boy had backed out of the stern.• The waves which lapped over the stern of the raft were our waste-disposal system.• Water Gypsy shuddered from bow to stern.Origin stern1 Old English styrne stern2 (1200-1300) Probably from Old Norse stjorn “steering”

stern1 adjectivestern2 nounChinese  

and strict, of someone’s and strong disapproval serious Corpus showing behaviour

stern

I

stern¹ /stɜːn $ stɜːrn/ adjective1. serious and strict, and showing strong disapproval of someone’s behaviour:
    sterner penalties for drug offences
    stern look/voice/expression etc
    ‘Wait!’ I shouted in my sternest voice.
    stern warning/rebuke
    His actions have earned him stern rebukes from human rights organizations.
2. be made of sterner stuff to have a strong character and be more determined than other people to succeed in a difficult situation:
    Ann, made of sterner stuff than I, refused all offers of help.
—sternly adverb
—sternness noun [uncountable]
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ strict expecting people to obey rules or to do what you say – used especially about parents, teachers, or organizations: Our teachers were very strict. | Most schools are quite strict about the way students dress.
   ▪ firm showing that you are in control of the situation and will not change your opinion, especially when you are telling someone what to do: You have to be firm with young children. | I’ll be firm with him and tell him he can’t have any more money.
   ▪ tough determined that your orders or decisions will be obeyed, especially in order to make sure that a situation improves – used especially when you think that someone is right to be strict: We need a government that is tough on crime. | She can be quite tough with her students, but they respect her for it. | The chancellor has got to be tough and keep government spending down.
   ▪ stern strict in a serious, disapproving, and rather unfriendly way: Her grandfather was a stern man who rarely smiled. | Sheila walked into the museum, under the stern gaze of the curator.
   ▪ harsh punishing or criticizing someone in a way that seems very severe, often too severe: Don’t be too harsh on her – she’s only a child. | It may seem harsh to punish him, but he has to learn that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable. | Her reaction to the child’s bad behaviour was unnecessarily harsh.
   ▪ authoritarian disapproving very strict about forcing people to obey rules or laws, and punishing them very severely if they fail to do this – used about people and governments: Her father was very authoritarian and insisted on total obedience. | an authoritarian government

II

stern² noun [countable usually singular]the back of a ship ⇨ bow

Stern

I

Stern, David
(1942–) an official who became the commissioner of the National Basketball Association in the US in 1984. He also helped begin the Women's National Basketball Association in 1997.

II

Stern, Howard
(1954–) a US radio talk show host who is famous for trying to shock and offend the people who listen to and call his show. The name ‘shock jock’ was invented to describe what he does.

III

Stern, Isaac
(1920–2001) a US violin player, born in Russia