hardcore
hardcore — noun
1. broken stones, bricks, and other crushed hard waste that builders place beneath
broken stones, bricks, and other crushed hard waste that builders place beneath roads, paths, or floors to create a firm, level foundation.
The crew spread a thick layer of hardcore before pouring concrete for the new driveway.
hardcore as base layer before concrete
Trucks delivered crushed hardcore from the demolition site to the road-building project.
Without hardcore beneath it, the garden path sinks into the mud after heavy rain.
The contractor ordered extra hardcore to raise the foundation level above the flood line.
Hardcore made from recycled bricks is often used beneath patios and parking areas.
文法句型
layer/spread of hardcore
hardcore base/layer
用法筆記
This sense is almost always uncountable and is more common in British English than American English. In US construction contexts, terms like 'crushed stone' or 'fill' are preferred.
常見錯誤
2. a very fast and loud style of punk rock music that usually has aggressively poli
a very fast and loud style of punk rock music that usually has aggressively political or angry lyrics and a raw, unpolished sound.
Meera discovered hardcore through a friend's mixtape and instantly loved its raw energy.
discover + hardcore through [medium]
The basement show featured three hardcore bands whose sets lasted under fifteen minutes each.
hardcore band + playing sets
Minho writes lyrics for his hardcore band that criticize government corruption and social inequality.
Hoa's older brother took her to a hardcore punk concert when she was just fourteen years old.
Paloma prefers the melodic style of nineties hardcore over the more aggressive modern sound.
- hardcore punk
the full name of the genre; more precise in formal writing
- punk rock
the broader genre that hardcore emerged from; less intense and fast than hardcore
文法句型
hardcore + [band/music/scene]
play hardcore
用法筆記
Often shortened to 'hardcore' in conversation. The full term 'hardcore punk' is used to distinguish it from other electronic subgenres also called 'hardcore' (e.g. happy hardcore).
常見錯誤
3. the small, most committed group of people within a larger organization, communit
the small, most committed group of people within a larger organization, community, or movement who are the most active, loyal, and dedicated members.
The hard core of the volunteer team meets every Saturday to plan the week ahead.
the hard core of [group] meets/plans
Only the hard core of party members attended every single campaign rally across the state.
The organization relies on a hard core of twenty donors who give every year without fail.
A hard core of loyal members saved the club by raising money during its financial trouble.
- inner circle
suggests closeness and exclusive access rather than dedication; often implies power or influence
- nucleus
suggests a central group around which the rest of the organization forms; more formal
- core
the simplest term; does not carry the same connotation of extreme dedication
- periphery
the less committed or less involved members on the outer edges of a group
文法句型
the hard core + of + [group]
用法筆記
Often written as two separate words ('hard core') in this sense, though the one-word spelling is also common. The phrase always refers to the group collectively, not to an individual person.
常見錯誤
hardcore — adjective
1. having an extremely strong and often extreme level of commitment, enthusiasm, or
having an extremely strong and often extreme level of commitment, enthusiasm, or dedication to a particular interest, belief, or activity — for example, a hardcore fan who never misses a game, or a hardcore runner who trains every day regardless of weather.
Sora is a hardcore fan of the basketball team and never misses a home game.
hardcore fan of [sports team]
Only hardcore hikers attempt the full twenty-kilometer trail in a single day.
hardcore hikers + attempt [challenge]
Hamza's hardcore dedication helped him pass the highest-level Japanese exam in two years.
The hardcore supporters cheered for their team in freezing rain until the final whistle.
Élise runs a hardcore fitness program that starts at five in the morning every day.
- die-hard
very close in meaning, but die-hard often implies stubborn refusal to change beliefs, while hardcore emphasizes intensity of commitment
- devoted
warmer and more positive; suggests loving loyalty rather than extreme intensity
- fanatical
stronger and more negative than hardcore; suggests unreasonable or obsessive devotion
- committed
neutral and less intense; simply describes someone who follows through on promises
- casual
describes someone who does something without strong commitment or regular involvement
- half-hearted
describes someone who puts in little effort or enthusiasm
文法句型
hardcore + [enthusiast noun]
用法筆記
Frequently used before nouns that describe types of enthusiasts (fan, gamer, follower, supporter). Can sometimes sound negative when suggesting the devotion is excessive or unreasonable.
常見錯誤
2. depicting or describing sexual acts in a very direct, detailed, and unambiguous
depicting or describing sexual acts in a very direct, detailed, and unambiguous way, without hiding or suggesting anything.
The film was rated adults-only because of its hardcore sexual content and violent scenes.
hardcore sexual content
Some streaming platforms ban any hardcore material from their mainstream search results.
ban + hardcore material
Critics argued that the novel's hardcore descriptions crossed the line from art into pornography.
The magazine refused to publish the advertisement because it contained hardcore imagery.
- explicit
a broader term that can describe any content shown without restraint, not only sexual; more neutral than hardcore
- graphic
can describe sexual or violent content shown in vivid detail; slightly broader than hardcore
- X-rated
refers specifically to material that has been given an adults-only rating; less common in modern usage
- soft-core
describes sexual content that is suggestive but does not show explicit acts; the direct opposite of hardcore
文法句型
hardcore + [media/content noun]
用法筆記
Often contrasted with 'soft-core', which implies sexual content that is suggestive rather than explicit. This sense is usually restricted to discussions of media ratings, censorship, and pornography classification.