新东方-柯林斯雅思备考词典

least

英 [liːst]

[ADJ, ADV, PRON]

词汇频率：

ADJ. 形容词

1. 最少的
You use the least to mean a smaller amount than anyone or anything else, or the smallest amount possible.
双语例句
例：
I try to offend the least amount of people possible.
我尽可能少得罪人。
2. 一点儿（也不）
You use the least to emphasize the smallness of something, especially when it hardly exists at all.
双语例句
例：
I don't have the least idea of what you're talking about.
我一点儿也不明白你在说什么。
3. 最微不足道的
You use least in structures where you are emphasizing that a particular situation or event is much less important or serious than other possible or actual ones.
双语例句
例：
Having to get up at three o'clock every morning was the least of her worries.
虽然她必须每天早晨3点起床，但这却是她的烦恼中最微不足道的一个。

ADV. 副词

1. 最少地 , 最不......地
You use the least to mean a smaller amount than anyone or anything else, or the smallest amount possible.
双语例句
例：
Damming the river may end up benefiting those who need it the least.
在河上建大坝最终可能有利于那些最不需要大坝的人。
2. 最少地
You use least to indicate that someone or something has less of a particular quality than most other things of its kind.
双语例句
例：
He was one of the least warm human beings I had ever met.
他是我所见过的最不热情的人之一。
3. 最低程度地
You use least to indicate that something is true or happens to a smaller degree or extent than anything else or at any other time.
双语例句
例：
He had a way of throwing Helen off guard with his charm when she least expected it.
他有办法用他的魅力让海伦在最意想不到的时候失去戒备。

PHRASE. 习语

at least
1. （数量上）至少
You use at least to say that a number or amount is the smallest that is possible or likely and that the actual number or amount may be greater. The forms at the least and at the very least are also used.
双语例句
例：
Aim to have at least half a pint of milk each day.
目标是每天至少喝半品脱牛奶。
例：
About two-thirds of adults consult their doctor at least once a year.
大约三分之二的成年人一年至少要看一次医生。
2. （表示可能性）至少
You use at least to say that something is the minimum that is true or possible. The forms at the least and at the very least are also used.
双语例句
例：
She could take a nice vacation at least.
她至少能过一个美好的假期。
例：
His possession of classified documents in his home was, at the very least, a violation of navy security regulations.
他把机密文件放在家里，最起码这是违反了海军安全条例的。
3. （在不利条件下）至少
You use at least to indicate an advantage that exists in spite of the disadvantage or bad situation that has just been mentioned.
双语例句
例：
We've no idea what his state of health is but at least we know he is still alive.
我们不清楚他健康状况怎样，但至少我们知道他还活着。
4. 至少（修正或补充刚说过的话） , 起码
You use at least to indicate that you are correcting or changing something that you have just said.
双语例句
例：
It's not difficult to get money for research or at least it's not always difficult.
获得研究的资金不难，或者说并不总是很难。

PRON. 代词

1. 最少量
You use the least to mean a smaller amount than anyone or anything else, or the smallest amount possible.
双语例句
例：
On education funding, Japan performs best but spends the least per student.
在教育资金方面，日本对每个学生投入的资金最少，但效果最好。
2. 起码
You use the least in structures where you are stating the minimum that should be done in a situation, and suggesting that more should really be done.
双语例句
例：
Well, the least you can do, if you won't help me yourself, is to tell me where to go instead.
哦，如果你不愿意亲自帮助我，起码应该告诉我往哪儿走吧。