engage
v
1 [Tn, Cn.n/a]
~ sb (as sth) (fml 文) arrange to employ sb; hire sb 聘用某人; 雇用某人
engage a new secretary 聘用一新秘书
He's been engaged to decorate the house. 他受雇装饰这所房子.
She was engaged as an interpreter. 她应聘当译员.
2 [Tn] (fml 文) occupy or attract (sb's thoughts, time, etc) 占用(某人的时间); 吸引(某人的注意力等)
Nothing engages his attention for long. 什麽事都无法使他长时间精神集中.
The woman's plight engaged our sympathy. 那女人的困难处境引起我们的同情.
3 [I, Tn] (fml 文) begin fighting with (sb) 与(某人)交战
Our orders are to engage (the enemy) immediately. 我们的命令是立即(与敌军)开战.
The two armies were fiercely engaged for several hours. 两军激战达数小时.
4
(a) [I, Ipr] ~ (with sth) (of parts of a machine, etc) lock or fit together (指机器零件等)啮合, 衔接
The two cog-wheels engaged and the machine started. 那两个齿轮一啮合, 机器就启动了.
One cog-wheel engages with another. 一齿轮与另一齿轮啮合.
(b) [Tn] cause (parts of a machine, etc) to lock together or fit into each other 使(机器零件等)啮合, 衔接
engage the clutch/first gear, eg in a car, when driving 使离合器啮合[挂一挡](如开车时).
5 [Tt] (dated fml 旧, 文) bind oneself by a promise; guarantee 允诺; 答应; 保证
a lawyer engaged to undertake the sale of the house immediately 受聘将房子立即出售的律师.
6 (phr v) engage (sb) in sth (cause sb to) take part in or be occupied in sth (使某人)参加某事或从事某事
I have no time to engage in gossip. 我无暇闲聊.
be engaged in politics, business 从政、 做生意
I engaged him in conversation. 我让他加入谈话.
I wanted to say at first the tall one, or the one with blond hair.
刚开始我会介绍说金发的。
He loved to be told that one of his imaginary products was temporarily out of stock and he would faithfully promise to call again at some future date, but of course he never did.