eight
eight — number
1. the number that comes after seven and before nine, shown by the symbol 8; used w
the number that comes after seven and before nine, shown by the symbol 8; used when counting or measuring how many of something there are.
There are eight chairs around the dining table in Anong's house.
eight + plural count noun for quantity
The night-shift nurse said she would work for eight hours straight.
eight + hours/days/years for duration
Daichi bought eight tickets so the whole family could see the show.
We need eight eggs for the cake recipe that Soraya found online.
文法句型
eight + [plural countable noun]
eight + of + [determiner] + [plural noun]
用法筆記
Used before a plural countable noun to specify exactly how many items or people there are. Cannot be used with uncountable nouns — for example, eight water is incorrect; you must say eight glasses of water.
常見錯誤
eight — noun
1. the name of the number 8, used as a subject or object in a sentence when talking
the name of the number 8, used as a subject or object in a sentence when talking about the number itself rather than a quantity of something.
In Tamar's classroom, the number eight was written on a card above the blackboard.
the number eight — noun phrase referring to the numeral
Eight is the number that comes right after seven on the counting chart.
Emre wrote a clear figure eight at the top of his maths worksheet.
The number eight is considered lucky in many East Asian cultures because it sounds like the word for prosperity.
The street address ends with an eight, which made it easy for the delivery driver to find the house.
- figure eight
Specifically refers to the shape of the written numeral 8, rather than the number value itself.
文法句型
the number eight
an eight
eights [plural]
用法筆記
Treated as a singular countable noun. Takes 'a' or 'an' when referring to the written symbol. The plural form 'eights' is used when talking about multiple instances of the digit (e.g., 'The password contains three eights.').
常見錯誤
2. the person or thing that is in the eighth position of a list, order, or sequence
the person or thing that is in the eighth position of a list, order, or sequence.
Caio was number eight in the queue at the bakery, so he waited about ten minutes.
number eight — position in a queue/order
In the catalogue, item eight is the wooden bookshelf that Maja wants to order.
Page eight of the instruction booklet shows how to connect the cables safely.
The runner wearing number eight on her shirt crossed the finish line just ahead of the others.
- eighth
More common for general position (e.g., 'the eighth person in line'); 'eight' is mainly used with 'number' or in labelling.
文法句型
number eight
item eight
eight in + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Often used with 'number' to form 'number eight' as a compound label. In everyday English, 'the eighth' is more common than 'the eight' when referring to position — this sense mainly appears in labelling contexts (page numbers, catalogue items, team jersey numbers).
常見錯誤
3. a playing card with eight symbols on its face; also, a set or group made up of e
a playing card with eight symbols on its face; also, a set or group made up of eight people or things.
Arjun played the eight of hearts and won the trick in the card game.
eight of [suit] — playing card terminology
The jazz band was an eight, with four brass players and four musicians playing rhythm instruments.
Otis drew an eight from the deck and placed it carefully on the pile.
The volunteer committee formed an eight-person subcommittee to plan the school's end-of-year celebration.
- octet
More formal; used in music and science contexts for a group of eight.
文法句型
an eight of + [suit/type]
the eight + [of something]
用法筆記
In card games, 'an eight' means a playing card with eight pips. In team or group contexts, 'an eight' describes any collection of eight members. This sense is less common than the basic number meaning and appears mostly in specific domains.
4. a narrow racing boat designed for eight rowers, each using one oar, together wit
a narrow racing boat designed for eight rowers, each using one oar, together with a coxswain; or the team of people who row such a boat.
The Cambridge eight trained every morning on the River Cam before the summer race.
[team] + eight — the crew as a collective
Oxford's eight crossed the finish line two lengths ahead of their rivals.
The eight from Sydney rowing club won the national championship for the third year in a row.
Each rower in the eight must pull at exactly the same moment to keep the boat moving fast and straight.
文法句型
the + [team/university] + eight
an eight + [verb in singular]
用法筆記
Belongs to the specialised vocabulary of competitive rowing. The word refers to both the physical boat and the group of people rowing it. 'Eight' in this sense is often capitalised when part of a team name (e.g., 'the Oxford Eight').
5. a car engine that has eight cylinders arranged in a V shape; also, an automobile
a car engine that has eight cylinders arranged in a V shape; also, an automobile equipped with such an engine.
The vintage eight rumbled loudly as Sven started the engine in the garage.
vintage eight — older car with eight-cylinder engine
Devika preferred driving an eight because the extra power made highway driving feel smoother.
The mechanic spent the afternoon tuning an old eight that a collector had brought in.
Modern V8 engines use less fuel than the older V8s that were common thirty years ago.
- V8
The standard modern term for an eight-cylinder engine; 'an eight' sounds old-fashioned.
文法句型
an eight + [verb]
the old eight
用法筆記
Chiefly informal and somewhat dated. In modern automotive contexts, 'V8' is far more common than 'an eight'. This sense is rarely used by younger speakers and is mostly encountered in classic-car discussions.