4ADJ-GRADED [ADJ n](历史时期或事物存续期)早期的,初期的Early means near the beginning of a period in history, or in the history of something such as the world, a society, or an activity. (历史时期或事物存续期)早期的,初期的
...the early stages of pregnancy.
怀孕初期
...Fassbinder's early films.
法斯宾德的早期影片
...the early days of the occupation.
占领初期
It's too early to declare his efforts a success.
现在就断言他的努力已经获得成功还为时过早。
5ADJ-GRADED [ADJ n](作品、过程等)开始阶段的Early means near the beginning of something such as a piece of work or a process. (作品、过程等)开始阶段的
...an incident which occurred much earlier in the game.
比赛刚开始时发生的一件事
6ADJ-GRADED [ADJ n](植物)早开花的,早熟的Early refers to plants which flower or crop before or at the beginning of the main season. (植物)早开花的,早熟的
...these early cabbages and cauliflowers.
这些早熟卷心菜和花椰菜
Early is also an adverb.
...early flowering shrubs.
早花灌木
7ADJ-GRADED [ADJ n](传闻、迹象等)最早的,最初的Early reports or indications of something are the first reports or indications about it. (传闻、迹象等)最早的,最初的 [formal]
The early indications look encouraging.
开初的迹象看起来令人鼓舞。
Earlier reports that troops opened fire are now being denied.
有关军队开火的最初传闻现在遭到了否认。
8PHRASE 早在 You can use as early as to emphasize that a particular time or period is surprisingly early. 早在 [emphasis]
Inflation could fall back into single figures as early as this month.
通货膨胀率最早有可能在本月就回落至个位数。
...as early as 1838.
早在1838年
9PHRASE 言之过早;为时尚早 If you say about something that might be true that it is early days, you mean that it is too soon for you to be completely sure about it. 言之过早;为时尚早 [informal]
The chances of Francis eventually becoming manager of England are perhaps higher. It is early days, of course, and he has yet to win anything.
VERBS | ADVERB | PREPOSITIONVERBS➤be, feel, seem早;感覺早;似乎早ADVERB➤extremely, fairly, very, etc.極其/相當/非常早▸➤awfully過分早◇You're here awfully early, aren't you?你來得太早了,不是嗎?➤a little, slightly, etc.有點兒/略有些早◇I'm sorry I'm a little early.對不起,我來得早了點兒。➤relatively較早▸➤surprisingly, unusually出奇地早◇These discoveries were made at a surprisingly early date.這些發現早得出奇。➤ridiculously不可思議地早◇I have to get up ridiculously early.我必須早得離譜就起來。PREPOSITION➤for對⋯來說早◇It's a little early for lunch.吃午飯還早了點兒。➤in在⋯早期◇He discovered these pleasures early in life.他早年的時候就發現了這些樂趣。
early ♦︎ on time ♦︎ punctual ♦︎ prompt ♦︎ on the dotThese words all describe sb/sth that arrives or happens before or at the usual or arranged time.这些词均表示早到的、提前的或准时的。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆to be early / punctual for sth◆very / always early / punctual / prompt■earlyarriving or happening before the usual or arranged time早到的;提前的;提早的◆You're early! I wasn't expecting you till seven.你来得真早!我还以为你7点才到呢。◆The bus was ten minutes early.公共汽车早到了10分钟。◆We had an early breakfast.我们早饭吃得早。◆Let's make an early start tomorrow.我们明天一早就出发吧。◆She's an early riser(= she gets up early in the morning).她起得早。◆He learned to play the piano at an early age.他从小就学习弹钢琴。OPPlate ⇨ late▸early
adverb
◆I arrived a few minutes early for my interview.我面试早到了几分钟。◆The baby arrived earlier than expected.婴儿早产了。■on ˈtime
phrase
arriving at the arranged or correct time; not late按时的;准时的◆Please try to be on time in future.以后请准时。◆The train arrived right on time.火车正点到达。OPPlate ⇨ late■punctual ˈpʌŋktʃuəl (ratherformal) arriving or happening at the arranged or correct time; not late按时的;准时的;守时的◆Always be punctual for an interview.参加面试一定要守时。◆Punctual attendance at all classes is required.所有的课都必须准时出席。OPPlate ⇨ late▸punctuality ˌpʌŋktʃuˈæləti
noun
[uncountable] ◆He insists on regular attendance and punctuality.他坚持要求不能缺勤,并且要准时。▸punctually
adverb
◆They always pay punctually.他们一向按时付款。■prompt [not before noun] arriving at the right time; acting without delay准时的;迅速的;立即行动的◆Please be prompt when attending these meetings.请准时出席这些会议。◆ (BrE) He's prompt to criticize but not so ready to do any work himself.他批评别人毫不犹豫,自己干起事来可没那么利落。▸prompt
adverb
◆The meeting will begin at ten o'clock prompt.会议将于10点钟准时开始。▸promptly
adverb
◆They arrived promptly at two o'clock.他们2点钟准时到达了。◆She deals with all the correspondence promptly and efficiently.她迅速高效地处理所有往来信件。■on the ˈdot
idiom
(informal) exactly on time; at the exact time mentioned准时;在指定时刻◆The taxi showed up on the dot.出租车准时到了。◆ (NAmE) Breakfast is served at 8 right on the dot.8点整开早饭。◆ (BrE) Please tell him I'll call him on the dot of twelve.请转告他我12点整会给他打电话。