1. C 裙子　 a woman's outer garment that hangs down freely from the waist
2. P 边缘，外围　 edge; fringe; verge; brink; periphery

　skirt　的基本意思是“裙子”，是可数名词，引申可指某物的边缘、外围或机器的护板，盖，罩。skirt作“边缘，外围”解时，常用复数形式。

　shorten a ～　将裙子改短
　divided ～　裙裤
　full ～　宽松裙
　man in ～s　穿女装的男人
　～s of a cloud　云朵边缘
　～s of a town　城郊
　～s of the city　市郊
　～s of the long coat　长大衣的下摆
　～s of the wood　森林边缘

　I tried to squeeze the water out of my soaking skirt.　我用力拧掉我那件湿透了的裙子上的水。
　I valued the skirt at ten yuan.　我估计这条裙子值10元。
　She had on a dark skirt and a grey pullover.　她穿着黑裙子，灰套衫。
　This is a going skirt at present.　这是一件当今流行的裙子。
　She wore a blouse and skirt.　她穿着衬衣和裙子。
　The styles of these skirts are all on the go.　这些裙子的式样都很流行。
　A gust of wind billowed the sleeves and skirts of women's dresses.　一股劲风把妇女们的衣袖和裙子吹得像波浪一样翻动。
　The rubber skirts round the bottom of a hovercraft were destroyed.　气垫船底部四周的橡胶护板被毁了。
　He lives on the skirts of the city.　他住在市郊。
　There is a spot on the skirts of the tablecloth.　桌布边上有个污点。

 ♣ a bit of skirt
　〈俚〉姑娘，女人　 girl or woman
　Mary is a nice bit of skirt.　玛丽是个好姑娘。
 ♣ clear one's skirt
　洗手不干　stop doing wrong and reform oneself; wash one's hands of sth
　Whether this man is to be convicted or not, I clear my skirts.　不管这个人是否应当被定罪，我反正是洗手不干了。
 ♣ hang on the skirts of
　依赖　depending on sb
　The blind man's living hangs on the skirts of his two friends.　这位盲人的生活全靠他的两位朋友帮助。
　Though Mary is twenty now, she hangs on the skirts of her mother.　虽然玛丽已经20岁了，但事事还得依赖母亲。

　玛丽住在城郊。
　［误］ Mary lives on the skirt of the town.
　［正］ Mary lives on the skirts of the town.
　［析］ skirt表示“城郊”时须用复数形式。

1. vt. & vi.位于…的边缘，沿…的边缘走　 be or go round the outside of; go around
2. vt. & vi.回避，避开　 avoid a difficult question or subject that ought to be dealt with

　～ a group of ladies　绕过一群女士
　～ the house　围绕屋子
　～ the field　沿着田边走
　～ the town centre　绕过市中心
　～ the village　围绕村庄
　～ the issue　避而不提那个问题
　～ around〔round〕　绕过，回避
　～ around a reef　绕过暗礁

　We skirted along one side of the valley.　我们沿着山谷的一侧前进。
　As he walked through the lobby, he skirted a group of ladies.　他穿过门厅时，绕过了一群女士。
　We skirted the field and crossed the bridge.　我们沿着田边走，经过了那座桥。
　Fishing villages skirt the shore.　沿岸有渔村。
　Trees skirted the country estate.　庄园四周树木林立。
　The old footpath skirts the village.　围绕村庄的是一条古老的小路。
　He skirted the issue.　他避而不提那个问题。

 ♣ skirt around〔round〕　(v.+prep.)
　〈非正〉绕过，回避　 find a way to deal with a difficulty indirectly
　We skirted around the enemy forces and entered the mountains.　我们避开敌军进了山。
　The ship skirted around submerged obstacles.　船绕开水面下的障碍物而行。
　You can't skirt round the matter, you'll have to give the workers a satisfactory answer.　你不能回避那个问题，你必须给工人们以满意的答复。
　The speech was most disappointing, it skirted round all the main questions.　这篇演讲非常令人失望，它回避了所有主要的问题。
　In his speech he seems to skirt around all the main problems.　他在讲话中似乎回避所有主要问题。
　Let's not skirt round the awkward problem.　咱们大家不要回避棘手问题。