Word · CEFR C1 · Frequency #9458
lapse
失误；疏忽
A temporary failure or slip, especially one caused by inattention.
- 1.
A temporary failure; a slip.
暂时的失误；疏忽。
- 2.
a mistake resulting from inattention
因不注意而导致的错误
- 3.
A decline or fall in standards.
标准的下降或降低。
- 4.
a break or intermission in the occurrence of something
某事发生的中断或间歇
- 5.
A pause in continuity.
连续性的中断。
- 6.
a failure to maintain a higher state
未能维持更高状态
- 7.
An interval of time between events.
事件之间的时间间隔。
- 8.
A termination of a right etc., through disuse or neglect.
因不使用或忽视导致的权利等终止。
- 9.
A marked decrease in air temperature with increasing altitude because the ground is warmer than the surrounding air.
因地面比周围空气温暖,气温随海拔升高而显著下降。
- 10.
A common-law rule that if the person to whom property is willed were to die before the testator, then the gift would be ineffective.
普通法规则:若受遗赠人先于立遗嘱人死亡,则赠与无效。
- 11.
A fall or apostasy.
堕落或背教。
中断；间歇；下降；倒退；失效；丧失；气温递减；遗赠失效
In use
A momentary lapse of concentration caused the accident.
The manager overlooked a serious lapse in security.
Her memory lapse made her forget the appointment.
a lapse of three weeks between letters
a lapse in + noun
表示在某方面的过失或疏忽。
He apologized for a lapse in concentration.
他因注意力不集中而道歉。
a lapse of + time
表示一段时间间隔或流逝。
After a lapse of several years, they met again.
过了几年之后，他们再次相遇。
have a lapse
表示暂时性的出错或遗忘。
Connections
Collocations
- a lapse in concentration
- 一时走神；注意力不集中
- A brief lapse in concentration caused the driver to miss the traffic light.驾驶员一时走神，错过了红绿灯。
- a memory lapse
- 短暂失忆；记性突然变差
- She had a memory lapse and couldn't recall her old friend's name.她突然想不起老朋友的名字。
- a lapse of time
- 时间间隔；光阴流逝
- After a lapse of several years, the two scientists resumed their collaboration.时隔数年后，两位科学家恢复了合作。
- a security lapse
- 安全疏漏
- The data breach was caused by a security lapse in the company's network.数据泄露是由公司网络的安全疏漏造成的。
- a moral lapse
- 道德失范；品行失检
- The priest's moral lapse shocked the entire congregation.这位牧师的道德失范让整个会众震惊。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
联想 collapse 倒塌前的那一瞬：lapse 是短暂失误、疏忽或时间中断，像大崩塌前的小裂缝。
Context & Register
语域：mixed 常见场景：书面或正式表达中的“失误、疏忽”、法律/合同文件中指权利终止或失效、专业技术语境中的递减或时间间隔 该词作名词时语义较多，整体常用于书面或正式场合，日常口语中相对少用；在法律、合同或气象等专业语境中尤其正式。具体含义多需根据搭配和上下文判断，例如可表示一时走神、时间间隔或权利失效。
Grammar Note
常与介词 in 连用，表示在某方面的失误。
Pronunciation & Spelling
All six words end with the sound /æps/ (or contain /læps/ as a stressed syllable), so they rhyme with 'lapse'. Note that 'caps' and 'laps' are spelled without the final e; 'apse' is the closest spelling twin. Don't confuse 'lapse' with 'ellipse' (/ɪˈlɪps/), which looks similar but has a different vowel.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.