witness
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++wit·ness1 /ˈwɪtnəs/ ●●○ S3 W3 noun 1 crime/accident 罪案/意外事故SEE [countable] someone who sees a crime or an accident and can describe what happened 〔罪案或事故的〕目击者 Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward. 警方呼吁目击者站出来。witness to One witness to the accident said the driver appeared to be drunk. 事故的一名目击者说司机似乎喝醉了。 an eye witness (=someone who sees an event) to the robbery 抢劫案的一名目击者 → eyewitness2 in a court of law 在法庭上 [countable]SCT someone who appears in a court of law to say what they know about a crime or other event 〔法庭上的〕证人 → testifykey/star/principal witness the key witness in the case against the brothers 起诉那几兄弟一案中的关键证人 The defence is expected to call them as witnesses. 预计辩方会传召他们作为证人。witness for the prosecution/defence (also prosecution/defence witness) (=someone the prosecution or defence lawyers choose as a witness in order to help prove their case) 控方/辩方证人 → expert witness3 signing a document 签署文件 [countable]SCL someone who is present when an official document is signed, and who signs it too, to say that they saw it being signed 〔签署正式文件的〕见证人，连署人witness to a witness to a will 遗嘱的见证人4 be witness to something formalSEE to be present when something happens, and watch it happening 是某事的目击者 We were witness to the worst excesses of the military. 我们目击了最恶劣的军队暴行。5. christian belief 基督教信仰 [countable, uncountable] American EnglishRRC a public statement of strong Christian belief, or someone who makes such a statement 见证〔表示笃信基督教的公开声明〕；见证人〔作这种见证的人〕 → bear witness at bear1(15)n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: someone who appears in a court of law to say what they know about a crime or other eventADJECTIVES/NOUN + witness a key witness (=a very important witness)Rupert is expected to be a key witness at the trial.a star witness (=an important witness who says things that help one side a lot)The judge ruled that the state’s star witness had lied on the stand.a principal witness (=a main witness)The principal witness was too ill to testify.an expert witness (=someone who has special knowledge, for example of medicine, and who talks about it in court)The jury had to choose between the conflicting testimonies of expert witnesses.a character witness (=a witness who says that the person being tried is a good person)He said he would gladly be a character witness for her.a prosecution witnessDuring the trial, over thirty prosecution witnesses were called.a defence witnessA defence witness said that Carter was not holding a gun when the shot was fired.phrasesa witness for the prosecution/defenceWitnesses for the prosecution have not sounded convincing.verbscall a witness (=require a witness to speak in court)She was the final witness to be called.question a witnessThey were not permitted to question government witnesses.cross-examine a witness (=ask them questions about what they have said)His attorney cross-examined the witness.appear as a witnessHe appeared as an expert witness at several government enquiries.a witness testifies (=makes a statement)We had two witnesses who testified that they had seen him hitting his wife.a witness gives evidenceChild witnesses gave evidence using closed circuit television cameras.witness + NOUNthe witness box/stand (=where the witness sits when speaking in court)He spent three hours in the witness stand.the statement/testimony of a witness (=what a witness says)The testimony of one witness led to his conviction.
Examples from the Corpus
witness• The congressman was called as a witness for the prosecution today.• He is not entirely worthless as a witness.• In court, a witness said he had seen O'Grady punch the woman in the face.• Moreover, a witness had obligations.• Scores of equally distinguished witnesses gave similar testimony.• The Court agreed with the Special Commissioner over the admissibility of the evidence of the taxpayer's expert witness.• Police are appealing for witnesses to an arson attack on an apartment block.• The witness was asked to identify the defendant in the courtroom.• The witnesses would say later that the searingly brilliant white flash seemed to last for several seconds.• Evidence depends upon witnesses and, to some extent, their credibility is dependent upon their performance in the witness box.witness to• His brother was a witness to the will.• One witness to the accident said that the driver appeared to be drunk.key/star/principal witness• Rupert is expected to be a key witness at the judge-only trial due to open in Dublin on April 24.• And he said there was now further evidence to discredit a principal witness in the case as a liar and a cheat.• The police switched to regarding her as completely innocent and she became the star witness.• Most of the key witnesses have long since skipped the country.• The prosecution dropped the charges in 1976, announcing that the principal witness was too ill to ever testify.• What took place has to be reconstructed with the principal witness for the prosecution being unavailable.witness2 ●●○ verb 1 crime/accident 罪案/意外事故 [transitive]SCPSEE to see something happen, especially a crime or accident 目击，亲眼看见〔尤指罪案或事故〕 Several residents claim to have witnessed the attack. 几位居民称目击了袭击事件。► see thesaurus at notice, see2 experience STH 经历某事 [transitive]EXPERIENCE to experience important events or changes 亲身经历〔重要的事件或变化〕 Priests have witnessed an increase in religious intolerance. 牧师们亲身感受到宗教偏执在日益加重。3 time/place 时间/地点 [transitive] if a time or place witnesses an event, the event happens during that time or in that place 是发生〔某事件〕的时间[地点] Recent years have witnessed the collapse of the steel industry. 近几年钢铁产业崩溃了。4 official document 正式文件 [transitive]SCL if you witness the signing of an official document, you are there when it is signed, and sign it yourself to prove this 在〔正式文件〕上签名，连署 Will you witness my signature? 你愿意在我的签字旁连署吗？5 witness something (also ..., as witnessed by something) used to introduce an example that proves something you have just mentioned 以…作证〔用于给刚提及的事举例〕 Bad economic times can result in political dictatorships. Witness Germany in the 1930s. 经济不景气时代可能导致政治独裁，20世纪30年代的德国便是证明。6. religion 宗教 [intransitive]RRC to speak publicly about your Christian beliefs 作见证〔公开表示笃信基督教〕 → testify→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
witness• The crash was witnessed by millions of viewers who were watching the race on TV.• The crash was witnessed by scores of holiday weekenders along the beach.• Meanwhile, on the passenger front, the four-mile Sanderstead-Elmers End line witnessed funereal acts on 13 May 1983.• He has seen World Series and traveled to witness Opening Day in a handful of major-league cities.• A stock index does not oscillate with such frightening amplitude as we have witnessed recently unless to announce some tectonic change ahead.• How often we have witnessed such hubris, and how loudly we have guffawed.• Police are appealing for information from anyone who witnessed the attack.• I witnessed the Coventry versus Ipswich match recently.• It is not legal unless the pastor witnesses the marriage license.• But Bobby just sat there with a wolfish grin as guests moved in to witness the spectacle.witness ... signature• She simply produced the documents, Mr. O'Brien signed and she witnessed his signature.• I witnessed Kennedy's signature on the Friday.From Longman Business Dictionarywitnesswit‧ness1 /ˈwɪtnəs/ noun [countable]LAW1someone in a court of law who tells the court what they saw or what they know about a crimeThe government’s case rested on one key (=important) witness.I was asked to testify as a defense witness (=acting to defend the person accused of committing a crime).the main prosecution witness (=acting to show that the accused person is guilty)2someone who is present when an official paper is signed and who also signs it to prove thiswitness toYou will need two witnesses to the signing of the document.witnesswitness2 verb [transitive]LAW to be present when someone signs an official document, and to sign it yourself to show thisWill you witness my signature?→ See Verb tableOrigin witness1 Old English witnes “knowledge, account, witness”, from wit; → WITwit·ness1 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1witness2 verbLDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
sees Corpus a who an crime accident someone and or can Business
witness
wit‧ness1 S2 W3 /ˈwɪtnəs, ˈwɪtnɪs/ 
noun1. CRIME/ACCIDENT [countable] someone who sees a crime or an accident and can describe what happened:
Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
witness to
One witness to the accident said the driver appeared to be drunk.
an eye witness (=someone who sees an event) to the robbery ⇨ eyewitness
2. IN A COURT OF LAW [countable] someone who appears in a court of law to say what they know about a crime or other event ⇨ testify
key/star/principal witness
the key witness in the case against the brothers
The defence is expected to call them as witnesses.
witness for the prosecution/defence (also prosecution/defence witness) (=someone the prosecution or defence lawyers choose as a witness in order to help prove their case) ⇨ expert witness
3. SIGNING A DOCUMENT [countable] someone who is present when an official document is signed, and who signs it too, to say that they saw it being signed
witness to
a witness to a will
4. be witness to something formal to be present when something happens, and watch it happening:
We were witness to the worst excesses of the military.
5. CHRISTIAN BELIEF [uncountable and countable] American English a public statement of strong Christian belief, or someone who makes such a statement
⇨ bear witness at bear1(15)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + witness
▪a key witness (=a very important witness) Rupert is expected to be a key witness at the trial.
▪a star witness (=an important witness who says things that help one side a lot) The judge ruled that the state’s star witness had lied on the stand.
▪a principal witness (=a main witness) The principal witness was too ill to testify.
▪an expert witness (=someone who has special knowledge, for example of medicine, and who talks about it in court) The jury had to choose between the conflicting testimonies of expert witnesses.
▪a character witness (=a witness who says that the person being tried is a good person) He said he would gladly be a character witness for her.
▪a prosecution witness During the trial, over thirty prosecution witnesses were called.
▪a defence witness A defence witness said that Carter was not holding a gun when the shot was fired.
■ phrases
▪a witness for the prosecution/defence Witnesses for the prosecution have not sounded convincing.
■ verbs
▪call a witness (=require a witness to speak in court) She was the final witness to be called.
▪question a witness They were not permitted to question government witnesses.
▪cross-examine a witness (=ask them questions about what they have said) His attorney cross-examined the witness.
▪appear as a witness He appeared as an expert witness at several government enquiries.
▪a witness testifies (=makes a statement) We had two witnesses who testified that they had seen him hitting his wife.
▪a witness gives evidence Child witnesses gave evidence using closed circuit television cameras.
■ witness + NOUN
▪the witness box/stand (=where the witness sits when speaking in court) He spent three hours in the witness stand.
▪the statement/testimony of a witness (=what a witness says) The testimony of one witness led to his conviction.
■ In a court
▪defendant the person who is on trial for a crime
▪the defence British English, the defense American English the lawyers who are working for the defendant
▪the prosecution the lawyers who are trying to prove that the defendant is guilty
▪judge the official in charge of a court who decides how criminals should be punished
▪jury a group of people, usually 12 people, who listen to the facts and decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty
▪witness someone who describes in a court of law what he or she knows about a crime
▪testimony a formal statement made in a court of law about a particular situation or action
▪verdict the decision of the jury as to whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty
witness2 verb
1. CRIME/ACCIDENT [transitive] to see something happen, especially a crime or accident:
Several residents claim to have witnessed the attack.
2. EXPERIENCE SOMETHING [transitive] to experience important events or changes:
Priests have witnessed an increase in religious intolerance.
3. TIME/PLACE [transitive] if a time or place witnesses an event, the event happens during that time or in that place:
Recent years have witnessed the collapse of the steel industry.
4. OFFICIAL DOCUMENT [transitive] if you witness the signing of an official document, you are there when it is signed, and sign it yourself to prove this:
Will you witness my signature?
5. witness something (also ..., as witnessed by something) used to introduce an example that proves something you have just mentioned:
Bad economic times can result in political dictatorships. Witness Germany in the 1930s.
6. RELIGION [intransitive] to speak publicly about your Christian beliefs ⇨ testify
| I |
noun1. CRIME/ACCIDENT [countable] someone who sees a crime or an accident and can describe what happened: witness to
2. IN A COURT OF LAW [countable] someone who appears in a court of law to say what they know about a crime or other event ⇨ testify
key/star/principal witness
witness for the prosecution/defence (also prosecution/defence witness) (=someone the prosecution or defence lawyers choose as a witness in order to help prove their case) ⇨ expert witness
3. SIGNING A DOCUMENT [countable] someone who is present when an official document is signed, and who signs it too, to say that they saw it being signed
witness to
4. be witness to something formal to be present when something happens, and watch it happening:
5. CHRISTIAN BELIEF [uncountable and countable] American English a public statement of strong Christian belief, or someone who makes such a statement
⇨ bear witness at bear1(15)
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verb1. CRIME/ACCIDENT [transitive] to see something happen, especially a crime or accident:
2. EXPERIENCE SOMETHING [transitive] to experience important events or changes:
3. TIME/PLACE [transitive] if a time or place witnesses an event, the event happens during that time or in that place:
4. OFFICIAL DOCUMENT [transitive] if you witness the signing of an official document, you are there when it is signed, and sign it yourself to prove this:
5. witness something (also ..., as witnessed by something) used to introduce an example that proves something you have just mentioned:
6. RELIGION [intransitive] to speak publicly about your Christian beliefs ⇨ testify
Committing a crime 犯罪
commit a crime/a murder/a violent assault/a brutal killing/an armed robbery/fraud犯罪／谋杀罪／暴力侵犯他人身体罪／残杀罪／持械抢劫罪／诈骗罪 be involved in terrorism/a suspected arson attack/people smuggling/human trafficking参与恐怖主义活动；涉嫌纵火袭击；参与人口走私／人口贩卖 engage/participate in criminal activity/illegal practices/acts of mindless vandalism参与犯罪活动／非法活动／愚昧的故意毁坏他人财产的行为 steal sb's wallet/purse/( mobile phone/BrE ( cell phoneNAmE 偷某人的钱包／手机 rob a bank/a person/a tourist抢劫银行／他人／游客 break into/ ( BrE burgle/ ( NAmE burglarize a house/a home/an apartment入室盗窃 hijack a plane/ship/bus劫持飞机／轮船／公共汽车 smuggle drugs/weapons/arms/immigrants走私毒品／武器／军火；偷运移民 launder drug money (through sth)（通过…）洗毒资 forge documents/certificates/passports伪造文件／证件／护照 take/accept/pay sb/offer (sb) a bribe索取／收受贿赂；向（某人）行贿 run a phishing/an email/an Internet scam进行网络钓鱼／电子邮件／互联网诈骗
Fighting crime 打击犯罪
combat/fight crime/terrorism/corruption/drug trafficking打击犯罪／恐怖主义／腐败／贩毒 prevent/stop credit-card fraud/child abuse/software piracy防止／阻止信用卡诈骗／虐待儿童／软件盗版 deter/stop criminals/burglars/thieves/shoplifters/vandals威慑／阻止犯罪分子／入室盗窃者／小偷／商店扒手／故意破坏公物者 reduce/tackle/crack down on knife/gun/violent/street crime/( antisocial behaviourespecially
BrE 减少／处理／严厉打击持刀／持枪／暴力／街头犯罪／反社会行为 foil a bank raid/a terrorist plot挫败一起银行抢劫案／一次恐怖分子的阴谋 help/support/protect the victims of crime帮助／支持／保护犯罪活动的受害者
Investigating crime 调查犯罪活动
report a crime/a theft/a rape/an attack/( an incident to the policeespecially
BrE 向警方举报不法行为／偷窃案／强奸案／袭击事件／暴力事件 witness the crime/attack/murder/incident目击犯罪／袭击／谋杀／暴力事件 investigate a murder/( a homicide/a burglary/a robbery/the alleged incidentespecially
NAmE 调查谋杀案／蓄意杀人案／入室盗窃案／抢劫案／涉嫌的暴力事件 conduct/launch/pursue an investigation (into…)/( a police/murder inquiryespecially
BrE 进行／开始／继续（对…的）调查／警方调查／谋杀案调查 investigate/reopen a criminal/murder case调查／重新审理犯罪／谋杀案件 examine/investigate/find fingerprints at the crime scene/the scene of crime仔细检查／调查／查找犯罪现场的指纹 collect/gather forensic evidence收集法医证据 uncover new evidence/a fraud/a scam/a plot/a conspiracy/political corruption/a cache of weapons发现新证据／诈骗／欺诈／密谋／阴谋／政治腐败／私藏武器 describe/identify a suspect/the culprit/the perpetrator/the assailant/the attacker描述／指认嫌疑犯／罪犯／作恶者／攻击者／袭击者 question/interrogate a suspect/witness询问嫌疑人／目击证人 solve/crack the case破案
witness a person who sees sth happen and is able to describe it to other people; a person who gives evidence in a court of law 指目击者、见证人、证人 ：◆ Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident.警方呼吁这起事故的目击者出来作证。 observer a person who sees sth happen 指观察者、目击者 ：◆ According to observers, the plane exploded shortly after take-off. 据目击者说，飞机起飞后不久就爆炸了。 onlooker a person who watches sth that is happening but is not involved in it 指旁观者 ：◆ A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash. 在撞车地点聚集了一大群围观者。 passer-by a person who is going past sb/sth by chance, especially when sth unexpected happens 指路人、过路的人，尤指意想不到的事发生时碰巧路过的 ：◆ Police asked passers-by if they had witnessed the accident. 警察询问过路的人是否目击了这次事故。 bystander a person who is near and can see what is happening when sth such as an accident or fight takes place 指现场目击者、旁观者 ：◆ Three innocent bystanders were killed in the crossfire.三名无辜的旁观者在交火中丧生。 eyewitness a person who has seen a crime or accident and can describe it afterwards 指犯罪或事故现场的目击者、见证人
Patterns
a witness/an observer/an onlooker/a passer-by/a bystander/an eyewitness sees sthan observer/an onlooker/a passer-by/a bystander witnesses sth
notice to see, hear or become aware of sb/sth; to pay attention to sb/sth 指看（或听）到、注意到、意识到、注意、留意 ：◆ The first thing I noticed about the room was the smell. 我首先注意到的是这屋子里的气味。 note ( to notice or pay careful attention to sthrather
指注意、留意 ：◆ Please note (that) the office will be closed on Monday. 请注意办事处星期一将关闭。 NOTE This word is very common in business English. 该词在商务英语中非常通用 ：◆ Note that the prices are inclusive of VAT. 注意这些价格含增值税。 detect to discover or notice sth, especially sth that is not easy to see, hear, etc. 指发现、查明、侦察出 ：◆ The tests are designed to detect the disease early. 这些检查旨在及早查出疾病。 observe ( to see or notice sb/sth指看到、注意到、观察到 ：◆ Have you observed any changes lately? 最近你注意到什么变化没有？ ◆ The police observed a man enter the bank. 警察注意到一个男人走进了银行。 witness ( to see sth happenrather
指当场看到、目击 ：◆ Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them. 警方呼吁目击这一事件的人与他们联系。
Patterns
to notice/note/detect/observe that/how/what/where/who… to notice/observe/witness sth happen/sb do sth
especially