fossil
fossil — 名詞
1. the hardened shape or mark of an ancient living thing that died long ago and bec
化石
保存在岩石中的遠古生物遺痕
the hardened shape or mark of an ancient living thing that died long ago and became trapped inside stone over millions of years
The museum displayed a dinosaur fossil that was over 150 million years old.
博物館展示了一塊超過一億五千萬年前的恐龍化石。
collocation: dinosaur fossil
João found a small fossil of an ancient sea creature while hiking.
João 在健行時發現了一塊古代海洋生物的小化石。
Scientists study fossil remains to learn what life was like long ago.
科學家研究化石遺跡，了解很久以前的生命樣貌。
This fossil shows how a leaf looked over 300 million years ago.
這塊化石顯示了一片葉子在超過三億年前的模樣。
Hana carefully brushed the dirt from the fossil she had uncovered.
Hana 小心翼翼地刷掉她挖出的化石上的泥土。
- remains
broader term — can refer to any leftover part, not just rock-preserved ones
- impression
specifically a fossil that is a flat mark or imprint rather than a three-dimensional shape
文法句型
fossil of + noun
用法筆記
Fossils form when minerals in water slowly replace the organic material of a dead organism, turning it into stone over millions of years.
常見錯誤
2. an insulting word for someone, usually older, who sticks to outdated opinions an
老古板
思想守舊、不願改變的老人
an insulting word for someone, usually older, who sticks to outdated opinions and strongly dislikes change or fresh approaches
Grandpa is a bit of a fossil when it comes to using modern technology.
爺爺在使用現代科技方面有點像個老古板。
informal: 'a bit of a fossil'
Quinn called his boss an old fossil for refusing to allow remote work.
Quinn 稱他的老闆是老古板，因為老闆拒絕允許遠距工作。
The office laughed at Sirin for being a fossil who still uses a flip phone.
其他同事嘲笑 Sirin 還在用折疊手機，說他是個老古板。
Lisa's classmates teased her dad for acting like a fossil at the school party.
Lisa 的同學在學校派對上取笑她爸爸，說他像個老古板。
文法句型
old fossil
用法筆記
This sense is highly informal and can be offensive. It is often used humorously within a group but should be avoided in polite or formal conversation.
fossil — 形容詞
1. describing fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas that were formed underground
化石燃料的
與煤炭、石油等化石燃料有關的
describing fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas that were formed underground from the remains of ancient plants and animals over millions of years
Many countries are trying to reduce their use of fossil fuels.
許多國家正努力減少化石燃料的使用。
common compound: fossil fuels
William argued that fossil energy sources will not last for ever.
William 認為化石能源總有一天會耗盡。
The government plans to stop using fossil fuels for electricity by 2030.
政府計劃在 2030 年之前停止使用化石燃料發電。
Investing in fossil fuel companies is becoming less popular among young people.
投資化石燃料公司在年輕人之間越來越不受歡迎。
- renewable
describes energy sources like solar or wind that can be used again and again
文法句型
fossil + noun (fuel, energy, sources, industry)
用法筆記
In modern usage, 'fossil' as an adjective almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'fossil fuel' or closely related compounds. Outside that context, the adjective is rare.
2. relating to or being a plant, animal, or object preserved in rock from a very ea
古生物的
與遠古地質時期有關的
relating to or being a plant, animal, or object preserved in rock from a very early period of the earth's history
The cliff contained fossil bones of a giant lizard-like creature.
懸崖上含有某種巨型蜥蜴狀生物的遠古骨骼化石。
attributive use: fossil bones
Fossil footprints found in the desert show that many animals once lived there.
沙漠中發現的遠古足跡化石顯示曾有許多動物在那裡生活。
Shirin collected fossil shells from the beach where the rocks were very old.
Shirin 從岩石非常古老的海灘上收集了遠古貝殼化石。
The scientist dated the fossil teeth to around 10,000 years ago using carbon tests.
科學家利用碳鑑定法，將這些遠古牙齒化石的年代定為大約一萬年前。
- prehistoric
broader — refers to any time before written records, not limited to rock-preserved remains
文法句型
fossil + noun (remains, bones, specimens)
用法筆記
This adjective is almost always used before a noun (attributive position), unlike the noun sense which can stand alone.
3. having the appearance, texture, or qualities that remind you of a fossil, especi
似化石的
具有化石外觀或特徵的
having the appearance, texture, or qualities that remind you of a fossil, especially looking very old or stone-like
The old tree trunk had a fossil appearance with its hard, grey surface.
那棵老樹幹表面堅硬灰暗，看起來像化石一樣。
attributive: fossil appearance
Kasia noticed the fossil texture of the stone and guessed its age.
Kasia 注意到石頭像化石般的紋理，猜測了它的年代。
Fossil patterns on the cliff wall were shaped by wind and rain over centuries.
懸崖上的化石紋路是數世紀以來風雨侵蝕形成的。
The garden rock had a fossil quality, as if formed deep underground long ago.
花園裡那塊石頭有化石般的質感，彷彿很久以前在地底深處形成的。
- petrified
stronger — means actually turned to stone, not just resembling stone
文法句型
fossil + noun (appearance, texture, form)
用法筆記
This sense is uncommon in everyday speech. It appears mostly in descriptive writing about rocks, landscapes, or very old objects.