magnitude
magnitude — 名詞
1. how large, serious, or important something is, especially when the scale of it m
規模；重要
事物的大小或重要程度
how large, serious, or important something is, especially when the scale of it matters for understanding its full effects or significance.
The team did not fully understand the magnitude of the problem until the data arrived.
團隊直到數據送達，才完全了解問題的規模。
Residents were shocked by the magnitude of the flood damage across the whole town.
居民對整座城鎮洪水災情的規模感到震驚。
collocation: magnitude of [something]
Constanza could not grasp the magnitude of the task ahead of her.
Constanza 無法掌握擺在她面前的任務有多重大。
The magnitude of the company's debt became clear during the annual audit.
該公司債務的規模在年度審計期間變得明朗。
Historians still debate the magnitude of the social changes that followed the war.
歷史學家仍在辯論戰後社會變革的幅度有多大。
- scale
focuses on range or level with an implicit reference standard
- extent
emphasises the physical or conceptual boundaries of something
- significance
stresses meaning or consequence rather than physical size
- scope
suggests the breadth of coverage or the range of items affected
- insignificance
indicates a lack of importance rather than small size
- triviality
suggests something so minor it is barely worth noticing
文法句型
magnitude + of + noun phrase
adjective + magnitude
用法筆記
Often used with 'of' followed by a noun phrase describing the thing being assessed. Frequently modified by adjectives such as 'full', 'true', 'sheer', or 'real' to emphasize the scale.
常見錯誤
2. a number on a fixed scale that shows how bright a star, planet, or other object
星等
天體亮度的數字等級
a number on a fixed scale that shows how bright a star, planet, or other object in the sky appears when seen from Earth.
Astronomers measure the magnitude of stars to compare how bright they really are.
天文學家測量恆星的星等，以比較它們實際的亮度。
astronomy: stellar magnitude scale
The telescope revealed a galaxy with a magnitude too faint for the human eye.
望遠鏡顯示出一個星等太暗、肉眼無法看見的星系。
Tamar learned that a lower magnitude number means a star appears brighter.
Tamar 學到星等數字越低，表示星星看起來越亮。
Leo checked the star chart and noted the magnitude of each visible planet.
Leo 查閱星圖，記下每顆可見行星的星等。
- brightness
general perceptual term; magnitude is the specific numerical measure
文法句型
magnitude + of + number
adjective + magnitude
用法筆記
The astronomical magnitude scale is inverted: a lower number indicates a brighter object, and very bright objects have negative values (e.g., Sirius at −1.46). Commonly paired with 'apparent' (brightness as seen from Earth) or 'absolute' (intrinsic brightness at a standard distance).
常見錯誤
3. a number that describes the strength or energy released by an earthquake, measur
震級
地震釋放能量的強度分級
a number that describes the strength or energy released by an earthquake, measured using a standard numerical scale.
The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2, causing major damage to the city.
那次地震規模為 7.2，對該市造成重大損害。
seismology: earthquake magnitude scale
Scientists recorded a small magnitude 3.1 tremor near the volcano last night.
科學家昨晚在火山附近記錄到一次規模 3.1 的小型震動。
Buildings in the area are designed to survive earthquakes with a magnitude up to 8.
該地區的建築物設計可承受規模高達 8 的地震。
Chidi explained that each whole number on the magnitude scale represents ten times more shaking.
Chidi 解釋說，地震規模每增加一個整數，搖晃程度增加十倍。
- strength
everyday term for earthquake size; magnitude is the precise numerical measure
文法句型
magnitude + number
adjective + magnitude
magnitude + of + number
用法筆記
Each whole-number step on the scale corresponds to roughly 32 times more energy released. Typically used without an article in the pattern 'magnitude [number]' (e.g., 'a magnitude 6.2 earthquake'). Modern reports usually cite the moment magnitude scale (Mw) rather than the older Richter scale.