avon
avon — noun
1. a former local-government region in the southwest of England, set up in 1974 aro
a former local-government region in the southwest of England, set up in 1974 around Bristol and Bath and abolished in 1996 when its land was split among neighbouring authorities.
My mother was born in Bath when the area was still part of Avon.
historical reference: 'when ... was part of Avon'
The old road signs around Bristol still show the name Avon in places.
proper noun used as a place label
Grandpa Wilson worked for Avon County Council from 1980 until it closed in 1996.
After 1996, the towns that used to make up Avon were given new local councils.
用法筆記
Often referred to as 'the former county of Avon' in modern writing, since the unit no longer exists. Distinguish from senses 2-4, which are rivers, and sense 5, which is a person's title.
常見錯誤
2. a river of about 154 km in the middle of England, starting in Northamptonshire,
a river of about 154 km in the middle of England, starting in Northamptonshire, passing through the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, and joining the River Severn near Tewkesbury. It is famous for its link to William Shakespeare.
Tourists feed the swans on the Avon at Stratford every summer afternoon.
the Avon at [town] — locating phrase
Shakespeare is sometimes called 'the Bard of Avon' because he was born beside this river.
fixed phrase: the Bard of Avon
Mr. Patel rented a small wooden boat and rowed his daughters down the Avon.
Heavy rain in May caused the Avon to flood the gardens of several riverside cottages.
- Warwickshire Avon
more precise label used to separate this Avon from the Bristol and Wiltshire rivers
文法句型
the Avon
用法筆記
Almost always used with the definite article ('the Avon'). When the context isn't clear, English speakers add the location to avoid confusion with the other Avon rivers — for example, 'the Warwickshire Avon' or 'the Avon at Stratford'.
常見錯誤
3. a river of about 121 km in the southwest of England, beginning in Gloucestershir
a river of about 121 km in the southwest of England, beginning in Gloucestershire, running through the city of Bristol, and emptying into the Bristol Channel at the small port of Avonmouth.
From Clifton Suspension Bridge you can look straight down at the Avon flowing through its deep gorge.
the Avon as a sight from a landmark
Cargo ships still travel up the Avon to reach the docks at Bristol.
up the Avon — directional collocation
Maria's running club meets every Saturday on the path beside the Avon.
The tide on the Avon at Bristol can rise more than ten metres in a single day.
- Bristol Avon
the usual name when speakers need to be clear which Avon they mean
文法句型
the Avon
用法筆記
Often called 'the Bristol Avon' in maps and guidebooks, to set it apart from the Avon at Stratford (sense 2) and the Avon in Wiltshire (sense 4). Always takes 'the'.
常見錯誤
4. a river of about 105 km in the south of England, beginning in Wiltshire and runn
a river of about 105 km in the south of England, beginning in Wiltshire and running south past Salisbury before it reaches the English Channel at the seaside town of Christchurch.
Anglers come from across the country to fish for trout in the Avon near Salisbury.
fish in the Avon — typical activity
The cathedral at Salisbury rises right beside the gentle waters of the Avon.
beside the Avon — locative
Heavy summer rain swelled the Avon and flooded several fields outside Christchurch.
Helen and her cousins paddled their canoes down the quiet Avon all afternoon.
- Hampshire Avon
common alternative name, especially in fishing contexts
- Salisbury Avon
used when the speaker wants to anchor the river to its best-known city
文法句型
the Avon
用法筆記
Often labelled 'the Hampshire Avon' or 'the Salisbury Avon' in writing about fishing or geography, since three English rivers share the name Avon and learners can easily mix them up.
常見錯誤
5. the noble title given to Anthony Eden, the British Prime Minister from 1955 to 1
the noble title given to Anthony Eden, the British Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957, who became the first Earl of Avon after he stepped down from office.
Anthony Eden was made the first Earl of Avon shortly after he resigned as Prime Minister in 1957.
be made the Earl of Avon — title-granting frame
The library at school keeps a thin grey biography of the Earl of Avon on the top shelf.
the Earl of Avon — definite-article noun phrase
Letters between the Earl of Avon and Winston Churchill are kept in the national archives.
My history teacher always calls Anthony Eden by his later title, the Earl of Avon.
- Anthony Eden
the personal name of the man who held the title
文法句型
Earl of Avon
用法筆記
Always written as 'the Earl of Avon', with 'the' and capital E. Used mainly in historical or political writing about Britain in the 1950s; in everyday speech, people simply say 'Anthony Eden'.