fixture

fixture — noun

1. An item of furniture or equipment that is physically fastened to a building — fo

1.名詞B2
釋義

An item of furniture or equipment that is physically fastened to a building — for instance, a built-in bathtub, a boiler, or a fitted cupboard — and is normally sold together with the property when the owner moves out.

例句

The rental agreement says all kitchen fixtures, including the oven and dishwasher, stay with the apartment.

collocation: kitchen fixtures

When the Watanabe family bought the house, the previous owners took the light fixtures but left the bathtub.

collocation: light fixtures

同義詞
  • fitting

    often a removable item, whereas a fixture is fixed; but the two overlap in property contexts

  • installation

    a broader term covering any unit placed for use, including fixtures

  • appliance

    a functional machine (e.g., washing machine); may be a fixture if built-in

文法句型

fixture + of [building/room]

fixtures and fittings

用法筆記

In British property law and contracts, 'fixtures and fittings' is a standard paired expression. Fixtures are items fixed to the building (e.g., a fitted kitchen), while fittings are removable (e.g., a freestanding lamp). The distinction matters when buying or selling a home.

常見錯誤

The previous tenants took all the fixtures, including the sofa and the curtains.
The previous tenants took all the fittings, including the sofa and the curtains.
💡Sofas and curtains are fittings (removable), not fixtures (fixed to the building).

2. An officially scheduled sports match that forms part of a league or tournament p

2.名詞B2
釋義

An officially scheduled sports match that forms part of a league or tournament programme, with a fixed date, time, and location.

例句

The team's next fixture is against last year's champions at the national stadium.

fixture + against [opponent]

Fans eagerly check the football fixture list months in advance to plan their travel.

collocation: fixture list

同義詞
  • match

    interchangeable in sports, but 'match' does not emphasise the scheduled, official nature

  • game

    more common in American English; less formal than 'fixture'

  • contest

    a broader term for any competitive event

文法句型

fixture + between [teams]

fixture + against [opponent]

fixture + on [date]

用法筆記

Chiefly used in British English. In American English, 'game' or 'match' is preferred for individual events, though 'fixture' still appears in formal scheduling (e.g., 'fixture list'). Commonly modified by 'home', 'away', 'league', or 'cup'.

常見錯誤

The business conference is a fixture on the third Thursday of every month.
The business conference is scheduled for the third Thursday of every month.
💡Outside sports, 'fixture' for a scheduled event sounds odd or overly British; use 'scheduled event' instead.

3. Someone or something so closely associated with a particular place or group that

3.名詞C1
釋義

Someone or something so closely associated with a particular place or group that their regular presence is expected and treated as part of the scenery — for instance, a retiree who reads at the same library table every afternoon, or a landmark that has stood in a square for many years.

例句

After thirty years at the same café, old Tomás had become a fixture of the neighbourhood.

become a fixture + of [place]

The elderly woman with the red hat is a regular fixture at every community board meeting.

collocation: regular fixture

同義詞
  • regular

    less metaphorical; describes someone who visits often but not necessarily as a permanent feature

  • staple

    emphasises that something is a core, essential part of a setting

  • institution

    a person or thing so established that they are considered integral; more formal and grander

反義詞
  • newcomer

    someone who has recently arrived and is not yet familiar in a setting

  • stranger

    someone unknown or unrecognised in a particular place

文法句型

become a fixture + in/at/on [place/group]

be a fixture + of [environment]

用法筆記

Commonly follows the verb 'become' (become a fixture). The collocation 'regular fixture' emphasises frequency of presence. Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense is figurative and can apply to people, animals, objects, or even recurring events.

常見錯誤

My cousin is a fixture at the gym — she goes once a month.
My cousin is a fixture at the gym
💡she goes every morning before work.' — Being a fixture implies very frequent, almost constant presence, not occasional visits.