lifespan
lifespan — noun
1. the total period during which a living thing, an object, or a system continues t
the total period during which a living thing, an object, or a system continues to function or exist from the beginning to the end of its natural life.
The giant tortoise can live for over a hundred years, giving it an unusually long lifespan.
lifespan + of + time period; adjective + lifespan (long)
Joaquín estimated the new city bridge would have a lifespan of roughly eighty years.
estimated + noun + lifespan of + duration
A healthy human lifespan in modern Singapore now reaches well into the eighties.
The smartphone model has a typical lifespan of about three to four years before it slows down.
Théo was surprised that pet hamsters typically have a lifespan of only two to three years.
- lifetime
More personal and emotional; often refers to the time a person is alive with emphasis on the experiences within it rather than just duration
- longevity
More formal and biological; usually only for living things, with a positive connotation of unusually long duration
- duration
Broader and more neutral; simply means the time something lasts without the biological or functional implication
- life cycle
Scientific term that includes stages of development (birth, growth, reproduction, death), not just the total length of time
文法句型
lifespan + of + time period
possessive + lifespan
用法筆記
Frequently used with a time expression following 'of' (e.g., a lifespan of X years). Can apply to both living organisms (animals, plants, humans) and non-living things (products, machines, buildings, projects). Unlike 'lifetime,' which often carries emotional or personal associations, 'lifespan' is more neutral and technical.