willow
willow — 名詞
1. a tall tree with many slender branches that grows best near water; also, the lig
柳樹；柳木
水邊生長的落葉喬木，或其輕軟木材
a tall tree with many slender branches that grows best near water; also, the light, soft wood taken from willows, often used in baskets and light furniture
The old weeping willow's drooping branches swept the ground as children played in its shade.
垂柳的枝條垂到地面，孩子們在樹蔭下玩耍。
collocation: weeping willow
Eli wove willow branches into a fence, bending them easily around the wooden posts.
Eli 用柳條編籬笆，輕輕一彎就把枝條繞在木樁上。
Along the riverbank, a row of willow trees keeps the soil from washing away.
河岸邊有一排柳樹，防止泥土被沖刷掉。
Layla wove thin strips of willow wood into a basket for storing fruit.
Layla 將薄薄的柳木條編成一個籃子來裝水果。
The carpenter João chose willow for rocking chairs, praising its light weight and strength.
木匠 João 選用柳木來做搖椅，稱讚它又輕又堅固。
- sallow
An older or more formal botanical name for certain willow species, especially bushier varieties
- osier
A specific type of willow with very thin, bendable branches, traditionally used in basket-making
- weeping willow
A popular ornamental willow variety with distinctly drooping branches; often what people picture when they hear 'willow'
用法筆記
When referring to the living tree, 'willow' is countable (a willow / two willows). When referring to the wood as a material, it is uncountable (some willow / made of willow).
常見錯誤
2. a bat used in the sport of cricket, made from the wood of a willow tree — sports
柳木球棒
板球運動中使用的柳木製球棒
a bat used in the sport of cricket, made from the wood of a willow tree — sports journalists and players often refer to the bat itself as a 'willow'
Femi picked up his willow and walked to the cricket pitch with confidence.
Femi 拿起他的板球棒，自信地走向球場。
metonymic use: willow = cricket bat
Christopher oiled his willow carefully before the big match to protect the wood.
Christopher 在大賽前仔細地給球棒上油，以保護木頭。
The umpire inspected the willow after the batsman hit a powerful shot over the boundary.
裁判在打者擊出一記強力過界球後，檢查了那根球棒。
Yuki admired the straight grain of her new willow, hoping to score well.
Yuki 很欣賞新球棒筆直的紋理，希望能打出好成績。
Tunde's willow cracked during the match, so his coach ordered a new one.
Tunde 的球棒在比賽中裂開了，教練便訂了一根新的。
- cricket bat
The general, everyday term for the equipment; 'willow' implies a focus on the material or is used in sports writing for stylistic variety
用法筆記
This sense is almost exclusively British and specific to the sport of cricket. It is not used for baseball bats, hockey sticks, or any other sports equipment. The word 'willow' here refers to the bat itself by naming the material it is made from (metonymy).