📚 每日单词 | Today's News — Thursday, May 14

📅 2026-05-14 · 11 个单词 · 往期卡片
⭐ vacuum ⭐ speculation ⭐ catastrophic ⭐ pledged ⭐ holed
1 / 11 🏫 校园生活
vacuum
noun /ˈvækjuəm/
真空;权力/权力真空
A completely empty space; metaphorically, a situation where there is no one in charge or no authority to fill a role.

The sudden resignation of the mayor created a political vacuum that opposition parties rushed to fill.

Vac-u-um:Vac(脱衣) + u(你) + um(唔)。老板突然辞职(脱衣走人),你愣住说“唔”,权力真空了!

2 / 11 🏫 校园生活
speculation
noun /ˌspɛkjəˈleɪʃən/
推测;投机
The forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence; or the buying/selling of goods in the hope of profit from price changes.

Speculation about the merger drove the company’s stock price to record highs before the official announcement.

Spec-u-la-tion:Spec(看) + u(你) + la(啦) + tion。你看着股票走势说“啦”,纯属猜测(投机)!

3 / 11 🏫 校园生活
catastrophic
adjective /ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk/
灾难性的;极严重的
Involving or causing sudden great damage or loss; extremely bad or disastrous.

The committee warned that ignoring the infrastructure report could lead to catastrophic failures in the bridge system.

Cat(猫) + a + strophe(转向)。猫突然转向,撞翻了花瓶,灾难性的后果!

4 / 11 🏫 校园生活
pledged
verb (past tense of pledge) /plɛdʒd/
承诺;保证
Committed oneself to a particular course of action; gave a solemn promise or guarantee.

The senator pledged to vote against the bill if it did not include stronger environmental protections.

Pledge:Pl(拍) + edge(边)。拍着胸脯站在边缘说“我保证”,绝不退缩!

5 / 11 🏫 校园生活
holed
adjective /hoʊld/
陷落的;被击沉的;被困在洞/坑里的
Damaged by a hole, often used specifically for ships that have been sunk or vehicles trapped in a hole or crater.

The destroyer was holed by enemy fire and began to take on water rapidly.

Holed:Hole(洞)+d。船被炮火打出洞(hole)了,所以沉(holed)了。

6 / 11 🏫 校园生活
interim
adjective /ˈɪntərɪm/
临时的;过渡期的
Intended to be used or happening until something more permanent is arranged.

The board appointed an interim CEO while searching for a permanent replacement.

Inter-im:Inter(中间)+im(我)。在我(我)正式上任前,我是中间(中间)那个临时负责人。

7 / 11 📖 学术读写
compulsory
adjective /kəmˈpʌlsəri/
强制性的;义务的
Required by law or rule; not optional.

The new legislation makes voting compulsory for all citizens aged 18 and over.

Compul-sory:Com(共同) + pul(推) + sory。大家被推着走,不得不做,强制性。

8 / 11 🏫 校园生活
revolt
noun/verb /rɪˈvoʊlt/
叛乱;反抗
An armed resistance to an established government or ruler; to rise up.

The military junta fears a popular revolt could destabilize the entire region.

Re(再) + volt(电压/转弯)。再次反转电压,导致系统崩溃,引发反抗。

9 / 11 🏫 校园生活
candidate
noun /ˈkændɪdət/
候选人
A person who applies for a job or is nominated to be elected to public office.

The leading candidate in the primary election has secured a significant lead in the polls.

Candid(诚实/坦率) + ate(吃/做)。想要当候选人,必须表现得诚实坦率。

10 / 11 🏫 校园生活
superfans
noun /ˈsuːpərˌfænz/
超级粉丝;狂热的追随者
Dedicated followers who show exceptional interest in a celebrity, team, or brand, often going beyond casual consumption.

The artist’s superfans organized a flash mob outside the stadium to celebrate the tour announcement.

Super (超级) + Fans (风扇/粉丝) = 像强力风扇一样疯狂转动的铁杆粉丝。

11 / 11 🏫 校园生活
verdict
noun /ˈvɜːrdɪkt/
裁决;结论;定论
The decision made by a jury or judge in a legal case, or the final opinion on a particular matter.

The jury reached a verdict of not guilty after deliberating for three days.

Ver (真) + dict (说) = 法官说出真相,即“裁决”。

1 / 11
1 vacuum /ˈvækjuəm/
真空;权力/权力真空
The sudden resignation of the mayor created a political vacuum that opposition parties rushed to fill.
2 speculation /ˌspɛkjəˈleɪʃən/
推测;投机
Speculation about the merger drove the company’s stock price to record highs before the official announcement.
3 catastrophic /ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk/
灾难性的;极严重的
The committee warned that ignoring the infrastructure report could lead to catastrophic failures in the bridge system.
4 pledged /plɛdʒd/
承诺;保证
The senator pledged to vote against the bill if it did not include stronger environmental protections.
5 holed /hoʊld/
陷落的;被击沉的;被困在洞/坑里的
The destroyer was holed by enemy fire and began to take on water rapidly.
6 interim /ˈɪntərɪm/
临时的;过渡期的
The board appointed an interim CEO while searching for a permanent replacement.
7 compulsory /kəmˈpʌlsəri/
强制性的;义务的
The new legislation makes voting compulsory for all citizens aged 18 and over.
8 revolt /rɪˈvoʊlt/
叛乱;反抗
The military junta fears a popular revolt could destabilize the entire region.
9 candidate /ˈkændɪdət/
候选人
The leading candidate in the primary election has secured a significant lead in the polls.
10 superfans /ˈsuːpərˌfænz/
超级粉丝;狂热的追随者
The artist’s superfans organized a flash mob outside the stadium to celebrate the tour announcement.
11 verdict /ˈvɜːrdɪkt/
裁决;结论;定论
The jury reached a verdict of not guilty after deliberating for three days.
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