ultrasound
ultrasound — 名詞
1. sound waves at a frequency too high for the human ear to detect, used in medicin
超音波
頻率高於人耳可聽範圍的聲波
sound waves at a frequency too high for the human ear to detect, used in medicine to produce images of the inside of the body and in technologies such as sonar for finding objects underwater
Bats send out pulses of ultrasound to find insects in the dark.
蝙蝠靠發出超音波脈衝來在黑暗中尋找昆蟲。
collocation: pulses of ultrasound
Doctors use ultrasound to check whether a patient's heart valves are working properly.
醫生用超音波檢查病人的心臟瓣膜是否運作正常。
use + ultrasound + to-infinitive for examining body parts
Ultrasound can pass through soft body tissues but not through bone.
超音波可以穿過人體柔軟組織，但無法穿透骨骼。
The submarine crew used ultrasound to map the ocean floor below the ship.
潛艇人員使用超音波來繪製船底下的海底地形。
Engineers rely on ultrasound to find tiny cracks inside metal airplane parts.
工程師依靠超音波來找出飛機金屬零件內部的細微裂縫。
- sonography
strictly refers to the imaging technique using ultrasound, not the waves themselves; more formal and technical
- ultrasonography
the full medical name for imaging using ultrasound; very formal, rarely used outside clinical writing
- infrasound
sound waves at frequencies below human hearing, the opposite end of the frequency spectrum
用法筆記
Always uncountable when referring to the waves or the general technology. Frequently used as a modifier before another noun (e.g., ultrasound waves, ultrasound therapy, ultrasound equipment).
常見錯誤
2. a medical examination during which organs, a developing baby, or other internal
超音波檢查
利用超音波產生的體內影像做診斷
a medical examination during which organs, a developing baby, or other internal body structures are shown as pictures on a screen using very fast sound vibrations
Leila had an ultrasound at twelve weeks to see her baby's heartbeat.
Leila 在懷孕十二週時做了超音波檢查，看看寶寶的心跳。
have + an ultrasound + at [time] for pregnancy
The ultrasound showed that Noa's appendix was swollen and needed urgent care.
超音波檢查顯示 Noa 的闌尾已經腫脹，需要緊急處理。
Ravi's doctor scheduled an ultrasound of his liver for the following Monday.
Ravi 的醫生為他排定隔週一做肝臟超音波檢查。
Getting an ultrasound is painless because the device only touches the skin.
做超音波檢查完全不會痛，因為儀器只會接觸皮膚表面。
The hospital bought a new ultrasound machine that gives much clearer pictures.
醫院買了一台新的超音波機器，能呈現更清晰的影像。
- ultrasound scan
exactly the same meaning; adds the word 'scan' to make the medical procedure explicit
- sonogram
specifically refers to the image produced by an ultrasound, not the procedure itself; commonly used in American English
- ultrasonography
the formal medical name for the technique; very technical and rarely used in everyday conversation
用法筆記
Countable in everyday contexts: you have an ultrasound (a single examination). Uncountable when referring to the procedure in general: Ultrasound is a safe imaging method. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 refers to the examination or its result, not the sound waves themselves.