wire
wire — 名詞
1. a slender, bendable strand of metal used for tying things together or making fra
金屬絲
可彎曲的金屬細線
a slender, bendable strand of metal used for tying things together or making frameworks such as baskets, fences, and cages
The farmer used a strong wire to fasten the broken section of the gate.
農夫用一條堅固的金屬絲把圍欄破損的地方綁好。
countable: 'a wire' = a piece or length of wire
Constanza twisted the copper wire tightly around the bundle of old newspapers.
Constanza 把銅絲緊緊纏繞在那捆舊報紙上。
A thin wire held the pieces of the broken pottery together while the glue dried.
一條細金屬絲把破掉的陶器碎片固定住，等膠水乾掉。
The children used wire from a hanger to make a hook for their bird feeder.
孩子們用衣架上的鐵絲做了個鉤子掛鳥飼料盆。
文法句型
a piece of wire
length of wire
用法筆記
As a material, 'wire' is uncountable ('a roll of wire'). As a countable noun, 'a wire' means a specific piece or length used for a particular purpose.
常見錯誤
2. a strand of metal covered in a protective plastic or rubber layer that carries e
電線
外包塑膠的導電金屬線
a strand of metal covered in a protective plastic or rubber layer that carries electricity to power machines, devices, or systems
A loose wire behind the television was causing the fuzzy picture.
電視後面有一條電線鬆脫了，導致畫面模糊不清。
countable: 'a wire' = one electrical conductor
The electrician replaced the old wires in the kitchen during the renovation.
水電工在翻修時更換了廚房裡所有的舊電線。
Be careful not to cut the wire when you trim the hedge near the house.
修剪屋子附近的樹籬時，小心別切到電線。
Cole checked all the wires connecting the speakers to the amplifier.
Cole 檢查了所有連接音響和擴大機的電線。
文法句型
wire + carries/delivers + electricity
connect + wire + to + device
用法筆記
Often referred to in the plural 'wires' when discussing a system of electrical connections. The phrase 'the wires' can mean the entire electrical system of a room or device.
常見錯誤
3. a small microphone or recording device concealed inside clothing or an object, u
竊聽器
隱藏式錄音裝置
a small microphone or recording device concealed inside clothing or an object, used to record conversations without the speakers' knowledge
The undercover detective wore a wire to the meeting with the suspect.
那名臥底刑警帶著竊聽器去見嫌疑人。
collocation: 'wear a wire'
Kwame discovered a wire hidden inside the lamp on the office desk.
Kwame 發現辦公室桌上那盞燈裡藏了一個竊聽器。
The judge ruled that the wire the police had planted was illegal without a warrant.
法官裁定警方未取得令狀就植入竊聽器的行為違法。
Yuna agreed to cooperate with the police and wear a wire during the drug deal.
Yuna 同意配合警方，在毒品交易時戴上竊聽器。
- bug
a broader term for any hidden listening device, not necessarily worn on the body
- listening device
the formal or technical term for any equipment used to eavesdrop
文法句型
wear a wire
plant a wire
用法筆記
Common in crime and espionage contexts. 'Wearing a wire' is the standard phrase for a person carrying a concealed recording device, often used in undercover police work.
4. a barrier made of tightly stretched barbed or chain-link metal strands, particul
鐵絲網
監獄周圍的帶刺鐵絲圍欄
a barrier made of tightly stretched barbed or chain-link metal strands, particularly one surrounding a prison, prison camp, or military compound
The prisoners spent years looking out at the hills beyond the wire.
囚犯們多年來只能隔著鐵絲網眺望遠方的山丘。
phrase: 'the wire' = the prison fence
The military camp was surrounded by high wire and concrete watchtowers.
那座軍事營區四周環繞著高高的鐵絲網和混凝土崗哨。
Chiara could see the guards patrolling along the wire from her window.
Chiara 從窗戶看到衛兵沿著鐵絲網巡邏。
The family stood outside the wire, waving goodbye to the departing soldiers.
家屬們站在鐵絲網外，向出發的士兵揮手道別。
- fence
a general term for any barrier; 'wire' specifically suggests a prison or military context
- barbed wire
specifically wire with sharp points, often used on top of fences
文法句型
behind the wire
over the wire
the wire
用法筆記
Used with the definite article 'the wire' to refer to the perimeter fence of an institution. 'Behind the wire' is a set phrase meaning inside the prison or camp.
5. a string stretched across the track at the finish of a race that the winning run
終點線
賽跑終點的標線
a string stretched across the track at the finish of a race that the winning runner or horse breaks upon completing the course
The two horses crossed the wire at exactly the same moment.
兩匹馬在同一瞬間衝過終點線。
phrase: 'cross the wire' = finish the race
Tamar watched the replay to see which runner hit the wire first.
Tamar 重看重播畫面，想知道究竟是哪位跑者先抵達終點線。
The crowd cheered wildly as the leading runner broke through the wire.
領先的跑者衝破終點線時，觀眾熱烈歡呼。
The grey horse led from start to finish and broke the wire easily.
那匹灰馬從頭領先到尾，輕鬆衝破終點線。
- finish line
the general term; 'wire' is specific to racing contexts where a string or tape is actually broken
文法句型
cross the wire
hit the wire
用法筆記
Originally literal in horse racing and track sports; now also used figuratively in the idiom 'down to the wire' (decided at the very last moment).
6. a printed message sent using the telegraph system that was common in the past, d
電報
過去透過電報系統傳送的訊息
a printed message sent using the telegraph system that was common in the past, delivered to the recipient as a written note
In 1943, families waited anxiously for a wire telling them their son was safe.
1943 年，家屬們焦急地等待著報平安的電報。
historical context: past communication system
Grandfather still keeps the old wire his brother sent from Tokyo in 1955.
爺爺還留著哥哥 1955 年從東京寄來的舊電報。
The company sent a wire to confirm that the shipment had arrived in New York.
公司發了一封電報，確認貨物已抵達紐約。
Hao's great-grandmother received a wire on her wedding day in 1928.
Hao 的曾祖母在 1928 年結婚當天收到了一封電報。
文法句型
send a wire
receive a wire
by wire
用法筆記
This sense is now historical. Telegraph systems were largely replaced by the telephone, fax, and later email. Modern equivalents would be a text message or email.
wire — 動詞
1. to attach or secure something firmly by wrapping or tying it with a thin metal s
用鐵絲固定
用金屬絲綑綁或固定
to attach or secure something firmly by wrapping or tying it with a thin metal strand
Emre wired the broken fence post to the steel stake beside it.
Emre 用鐵絲把破掉的籬笆樁綁在旁邊的鋼柱上。
pattern: wire + object + to + noun
The sculptor wired the metal pieces together before welding them.
雕塑家用鐵絲把金屬片綁在一起，然後才進行焊接。
Hao wired the loose pipe back into place behind the washing machine.
Hao 用鐵絲把洗衣機後面鬆脫的水管重新固定好。
Linh wired the broken chair leg to the frame with strong steel wire.
Linh 用堅固的鋼絲把斷掉的椅腳綁回椅架上。
文法句型
wire + object + to/onto + noun
wire + object + together/in place
用法筆記
Commonly used with a direct object and a location phrase. 'Wire something in place' is a typical pattern for securing items permanently.
2. to connect a device, building, or system to a power source or signal network by
接線；配線
安裝電線使設備通電
to connect a device, building, or system to a power source or signal network by installing and attaching electrical wires
The electrician wired the entire new kitchen over the weekend.
水電工在週末完成了整個新廚房的配線工作。
pattern: wire + building/room
Christopher carefully wired the speaker system to the amplifier.
Christopher 小心地把音響系統接到擴大機上。
The apartment was wired for both cable television and high-speed internet.
這間公寓接好了有線電視和高速網路的線路。
Shanti hired a professional to wire the home theater system properly.
Shanti 聘請專業人員來安裝家庭劇院系統的線路。
- disconnect
to remove the electrical connection
文法句型
wire + object + up
wire + object + into/to + noun
be wired + for + noun
用法筆記
Commonly used in the passive form ('the house is wired'). 'Wire up' is a frequent phrasal variant. 'Be wired for' indicates which services (electricity, internet, cable TV) are connected.
常見錯誤
3. to send money from one bank account to another through an electronic payment sys
電匯
透過電子系統轉帳匯款
to send money from one bank account to another through an electronic payment system
Tamar's mother wired her five hundred dollars for the plane ticket.
Tamar 的媽媽電匯了五百美元給她買機票。
pattern: wire + person + amount — double-object structure
The company wired the payment directly to the supplier's account in Hong Kong.
公司直接把貨款電匯到香港供應商的帳戶。
Cole wired the deposit to the landlord before the keys were handed over.
Cole 在交鑰匙之前把押金電匯給了房東。
Please wire the remaining balance to our office by the end of the week.
請在週末前將尾款電匯到我們的辦公室。
文法句型
wire + money + to + person/account
wire + person + money
用法筆記
Also called a 'wire transfer'. The verb can take two objects: 'wire someone money' or 'wire money to someone'. This sense is still very current, unlike the telegram sense of 'wire'.
常見錯誤
4. to use the telegraph system to deliver a written message or alert someone, as wa
打電報
透過電報系統傳送訊息（已過時）
to use the telegraph system to deliver a written message or alert someone, as was common before telephones were everywhere
In 1912, the captain wired news of the disaster to the company's headquarters.
1912 年，船長將災難的消息用電報發給了公司總部。
historical context — past tense signals dated usage
Eve's grandfather wired his family when his ship finally reached San Francisco.
Eve 的祖父在船終於抵達舊金山時，發了電報給家人。
The general wired headquarters for more supplies and reinforcements.
將軍打電報給總部，請求更多的補給和援軍。
Constanza's great-uncle wired them from Paris to announce his arrival date.
Constanza 的叔公從巴黎發電報給他們，通知抵達日期。
文法句型
wire + person + message
wire + that-clause
用法筆記
This sense is now historical. The telegraph system was the main form of long-distance instant communication before the telephone became widespread. Modern equivalents are 'text', 'email', or 'message'.