phlegm
n. 痰, 粘液, 粘液质, 迟钝, 冷淡, 沉着, 镇定 [医] 粘液(旧时四体液学说的四液之一), 粘痰, 粘液
发音
词形变化
别名
释义与例句
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1.
One of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus.
历史 不可数 -
2.
Viscid mucus produced by the body, later especially mucus expelled from the bronchial passages by coughing.
痰
不可数Even some members of the new bourgeoisie indulge in conspicuously boorish behavior, like hawking phlegm onto the pavement or picking their noses at business meetings.
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3.
A watery distillation, especially one obtained from plant matter; an aqueous solution.
历史 不可数 化学 -
4.
Calmness of temperament, composure; also seen negatively, sluggishness, indifference.
不可数
词汇关系
词源
From Middle English flewme, fleume, fleme, from Old French fleume, Middle French flemme (French flegme), and their source, Latin phlegma, from Ancient Greek φλέγμα (phlégma, “flame; inflammation; clammy humor in the body”), from φλέγειν (phlégein, “to burn”). Possible burning sensation when coughing up phlegm. Compare phlox, flagrant, flame, bleak (adjective), fulminate. Spelling later altered to resemble the word's Latin and Greek roots. The regularly developed form /fliːm/ has been displaced by a pronunciation /flɛm/ of uncertain provenance. It may be inherited, though some kind of learned or spelling pronunciation or influence from phlegmatic is also conceivable.
来源：wiktionary