darwin
darwin — noun
1. Charles Robert Darwin (1809–1882), the English naturalist who developed the theo
Charles Robert Darwin (1809–1882), the English naturalist who developed the theory that all living things evolve through natural selection. His book On the Origin of Species (1859) presented evidence for evolution and changed how people understand the diversity of life on Earth.
Lauren read Darwin's On the Origin on the train, underlining passages about natural selection in pencil.
collocation: Darwin's On the Origin of Species
Anjali wrote her school report on Darwin's voyage aboard the HMS Beagle.
collocation: Darwin's voyage
Darwin studied finches on the Galápagos Islands as a famous case of adaptation.
At Down House, Darwin carefully examined barnacles under his microscope before writing On the Origin of Species.
Darwin's explanation of natural selection helped Chidi understand why some birds survived while others did not.
- Charles Darwin
full name; used for formal or academic writing
- Charles Robert Darwin
complete formal name; used in encyclopedic contexts
文法句型
Darwin + verb
Darwin's + noun
用法筆記
Frequently appears in possessive form (Darwin's) before scientific terms: Darwin's theory, Darwin's finches, Darwin's notebooks. The adjective Darwinian describes ideas or processes that follow Darwin's principles.
常見錯誤
2. Erasmus Darwin (1731–1802), an English physician, poet, and natural philosopher
Erasmus Darwin (1731–1802), an English physician, poet, and natural philosopher who wrote about evolution in poetic form before his grandson Charles Darwin. He was also a founding member of the Lunar Society, a group of thinkers and inventors in 18th-century England.
Erasmus Darwin was a well-known physician who treated patients in the English city of Derby.
The Lunar Society brought together thinkers like Erasmus Darwin, James Watt, and Joseph Priestley.
historical context: Lunar Society
Erasmus Darwin published a long poem called The Botanic Garden about plants and nature.
Some of Erasmus Darwin's ideas about evolution were later developed further by his grandson Charles.
文法句型
Erasmus Darwin + verb
用法筆記
In most contexts, Darwin alone refers to Charles Darwin. When talking about Erasmus Darwin, the full name Erasmus Darwin or the informal label Darwin's grandfather is typically used to avoid confusion.
常見錯誤
3. the capital city of the Northern Territory in northern Australia. It is a major
the capital city of the Northern Territory in northern Australia. It is a major port on the Timor Sea and serves as a gateway for travellers visiting Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. The city was named after the naturalist Charles Darwin.
Darwin is the capital city of Australia's Northern Territory, located on the coast.
capital of the Northern Territory
Hui flew into Darwin on her way to explore Kakadu National Park.
The port of Darwin handles trade between Australia and countries in Southeast Asia.
Cyclone Tracy destroyed most of Darwin on Christmas Day in 1974.
Darwin has a tropical climate with a wet season and a dry season.
- Darwin city
used to distinguish the place from the person; common in travel writing
文法句型
Darwin + is + noun
in/to/from + Darwin
用法筆記
The noun sense and the geographical-name sense both refer to the same city. In this dictionary they are merged into one entry. When speaking Chinese, adding 市 (city) after 達爾文 helps distinguish the city from the scientist. In English, context alone usually makes the meaning clear — compare 'Darwin's theory' (the scientist) with 'I live in Darwin' (the city).