alpine
alpine — adjective
1. found in, typical of, or linked with very high mountain country.
found in, typical of, or linked with very high mountain country.
Tiny purple flowers covered the alpine meadow behind the mountain hut.
alpine meadow
Strong winds make alpine lakes colder even in late summer.
alpine lake
Scientists studied how alpine animals survive with little winter food.
The park protects alpine forests near the highest part of the valley.
- mountain
broader and more general; it does not suggest very high elevations
- high-altitude
focuses on height rather than the full mountain environment
- montane
more technical and common in geography or biology
- lowland
used for areas at much lower elevation
文法句型
alpine meadow / lake / forest / animal
用法筆記
Usually lowercase in this sense and most often used with natural features, weather, plants, and animals. Distinguish from sibling sense 2 (THE ALPS), which points to the Alps specifically rather than high mountains in general.
常見錯誤
2. connected with the Alps, including its landscape, people, or culture.
connected with the Alps, including its landscape, people, or culture.
The train passed through small Alpine villages on its way to Milan.
Alpine village
An Alpine guide showed us the safest path across the snowy pass.
Alpine guide
From the hotel balcony, we saw Alpine farms below the snow line.
The autumn festival filled the square with Alpine music and cowbells.
文法句型
Alpine village / pass / guide
用法筆記
Often capitalized when it directly means 'of the Alps'. Distinguish from sibling sense 1 (HIGH MOUNTAINS), which is usually lowercase and can describe similar places in mountain regions outside Europe.
常見錯誤
3. used for skiing and ski races done by going down steep slopes, not by travelling
used for skiing and ski races done by going down steep slopes, not by travelling across open snow.
Lena bought new boots for the alpine race next Saturday.
alpine race
The resort offers alpine lessons for children who can already stop safely.
alpine lessons
After lunch, we watched the alpine team practise downhill turns on ice.
Ethan prefers alpine skiing, but Kofi likes cross-country trails.
- downhill
the most direct everyday equivalent, especially in 'downhill skiing'
- ski-racing
narrower; refers mainly to competition rather than the general sport
- Nordic
used for cross-country and related skiing styles on flatter snow
文法句型
alpine skiing
alpine race / team / lesson
用法筆記
Usually appears before nouns such as 'skiing', 'race', 'team', or 'lesson'. Distinguish from 'cross-country' or 'Nordic' skiing, which happens on flatter ground and belongs to a different style.
常見錯誤
alpine — noun
1. a small mountain plant from cold, high places above the tree line, also grown in
a small mountain plant from cold, high places above the tree line, also grown in gardens.
We planted three alpines in a shallow box beside the kitchen door.
plural noun: alpines
Each alpine in Rosa's stone tray needs cool air and full sun.
an alpine / each alpine
The nursery sells alpines that bloom between melting snow and early rain.
A tiny alpine pushed through the rocks beside the hiking path.
- mountain plant
a plain description rather than a fixed gardening term
- rock-garden plant
often overlaps in gardening use, but some rock-garden plants are not true alpines
- lowland plant
grows in lower, warmer areas
文法句型
an alpine
grow alpines
用法筆記
Countable and common in gardening writing. It often names a plant by its growing habitat rather than its exact species, so catalogues and gardeners frequently use the plural 'alpines'.