Word · Frequency #21470
mutating
变异；突变
mutating is the present participle of mutate.
to change genetically or develop new characteristics
多用于生物学，指基因发生改变
- 1.
To undergo mutation.
发生突变。
- 2.
To cause mutation.
引起突变；导致突变。
变化；演变；使变异；使改变；元音变化；发生突变。；引起突变；导致突变。
In use
The virus mutates rapidly, so a new vaccine may be needed every year.
After years of treatment, the bacteria mutated into a strain that was resistant to the drug.
Researchers want to see how the cells mutate when they are exposed to high levels of radiation.
mutate into sth
常用于生物、病毒或抽象事物发生变化。
The virus quickly mutated into a new strain.
这种病毒迅速变异成了一种新毒株。
mutate from sth into sth
强调变化起点和终点。
The conflict mutated from a local dispute into a regional crisis.
这场冲突从地方纠纷演变成了区域危机。
mutate sth
用作及物动词时，主语通常是导致变异的事物。
Connections
Collocations
- mutate into
- 变异成；演变成
- The virus can mutate into a more dangerous form.这种病毒可能变异成更危险的形式。
- mutate rapidly
- 迅速变异
- Flu viruses mutate rapidly from season to season.流感病毒每个季节都会迅速变异。
- cells mutate
- 细胞变异
- Cancer cells mutate and divide uncontrollably.癌细胞会变异并不受控制地分裂。
- mutate over time
- 随时间演变
- Languages mutate over time, absorbing new words.语言会随时间演变，吸收新词汇。
- mutate beyond recognition
- 变得面目全非
- The original design has mutated beyond recognition.最初的设计已经变得面目全非。
Idioms & figurative uses
Learner notes
Memory Tip
把 mutate 想成 mute（静音）+ ate（吃）：基因像吃了静音药，功能沉默，于是发生变异。
Context & Register
语域：mixed 常见场景：生物学与遗传学文献、科普文章与科技新闻、书面评论中的比喻用法 该词表示‘发生突变/使变异’时，多用于生物学、遗传学或科技语境，语域偏正式；引申为‘演变成’时常见于书面或评论性表达，带比喻色彩。实际语域会随搭配和场景变化，建议按上下文判断。
Pronunciation & Spelling
The words above all keep the -ate spelling and end in an /eɪt/ sound, but they do not fully rhyme with mutate /ˈmjuːteɪt/, whose first syllable carries the stress. Beware lookalikes mute /mjuːt/ and commute /kəˈmjuːt/ (they end in /juːt/), and mutation /mjuːˈteɪʃən/ (it ends in /ʃən/).
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, WIKTIONARY.