mole
mole — noun
1. a small furry animal with weak eyesight that lives almost entirely underground,
a small furry animal with weak eyesight that lives almost entirely underground, digging tunnels and feeding on insects and worms
Zayd's garden had several mole tunnels running just beneath the soil surface.
collocation: mole tunnels
The mole's dark fur helps it slide through narrow tunnels without getting dirty.
possessive: mole's dark fur
Farmers often see molehills as a sign that the soil is rich in insects.
Camila learned that a mole can dig over fifteen metres of tunnel in one night.
- shrew
a similar small burrowing mammal, but shrews are smaller and have visible eyes
用法筆記
The plural form is moles. The piles of earth pushed up by moles at tunnel openings are called molehills.
常見錯誤
2. a small, usually dark area of pigmentation on the surface of human skin that can
a small, usually dark area of pigmentation on the surface of human skin that can be flat or slightly raised and is typically not harmful
Jenna noticed a new mole on her forearm and asked the doctor to examine it.
verb pattern: noticed a mole + asked doctor to examine
Most moles are harmless, but you should watch for changes in their shape or colour.
advice pattern: most moles are harmless, but you should watch
The dermatologist said the mole on Ryo's lower back looked completely normal.
People with many moles should use sunscreen and check their skin every month.
用法筆記
Used especially of brown or black spots. The medical term is melanocytic nevus. Always consult a doctor if a mole changes shape, colour, or size.
常見錯誤
3. a person who secretly works inside an organisation or government and passes conf
a person who secretly works inside an organisation or government and passes confidential information to a rival group or enemy
The company discovered a mole who had been selling customer data to a competitor.
relative clause: mole who had been selling
Security forces arrested a mole inside the ministry who leaked classified documents.
Working as a mole requires extreme caution and a believable cover story.
Otis suspected a mole in his team when the rival firm kept winning every contract.
- spy
a broader term for anyone who secretly collects information; a mole is a specific type of spy who has infiltrated an organisation
- double agent
a spy who works for two opposing sides at the same time
- infiltrator
someone who enters a group to gain information; less specific than mole
用法筆記
Common in espionage and corporate contexts. Unlike a regular spy, a mole is embedded within the target organisation, often for a long time, before beginning intelligence activities.
4. a standard unit in chemistry for describing how much of a chemical is present, d
a standard unit in chemistry for describing how much of a chemical is present, determined by counting the atoms or molecules it contains
In chemistry class, Joon learned to calculate the moles in a sample of sodium chloride.
classroom context: calculate the number of moles
One mole of any substance contains roughly six hundred and two sextillion particles.
definitional: one mole contains [Avogadro's number] particles
The mole helps chemists relate the mass of a substance to the number of atoms.
Haruto measured out one mole of calcium carbonate for the experiment.
文法句型
mole of + noun
用法筆記
Abbreviated as 'mol' in scientific writing. One mole equals approximately 6.022 × 10²³ particles (Avogadro's number). The term is almost exclusively used in chemistry and physics contexts.
常見錯誤
5. a large stone or concrete barrier built out from the coast into the sea, designe
a large stone or concrete barrier built out from the coast into the sea, designed to protect the shore from waves and to create a sheltered harbour
The fishing boats were safe behind the old stone mole that blocked the strong waves.
protective function: safe behind the mole
Engineers designed a new concrete mole to prevent the harbour from silting up.
Saira walked to the end of the mole and watched the sunset over the water.
Heavy storms damaged the mole, and the town had to raise money for repairs.
- breakwater
a more common term for a structure that protects a shore from waves
- jetty
a smaller structure that projects into water, often used for loading and unloading boats
- pier
a structure built out over water for people to walk on or for ships to dock
用法筆記
Less common in everyday conversation; the words 'breakwater' or 'jetty' are more widely used in modern English. 'Mole' in this sense is found more often in historical or technical descriptions of harbour structures.
6. a thick, rich Mexican sauce made from dried chilli peppers and often including c
a thick, rich Mexican sauce made from dried chilli peppers and often including chocolate, nuts, and spices, typically served with meat or poultry
Mole sauce takes hours to prepare, but the complex flavour is worth the effort.
preparation: takes hours to prepare
Sofie ordered chicken with mole and rice at the new Mexican restaurant.
ordering food: chicken with mole
Traditional mole includes over twenty ingredients, such as chiles, nuts, and dark chocolate.
The chef explained that mole poblano is the most famous type of this sauce.
用法筆記
Pronounced /ˈmoʊ.leɪ/ (moh-LAY), not like the animal. The word comes from Nahuatl 'mōlli', meaning sauce. Many varieties exist, including mole poblano (from Puebla) and mole negro (from Oaxaca).