1. U 量，大小，重量　 that which makes it possible to measure things through having number, size, weight, etc.
2. C U 数目，数量　 number or amount, especially a large one

　double the ～　使数量翻一番
　produce huge ～　大量生产
　certain ～　若干数量
　great ～　大量
　large ～　相当大的数量
　small ～　小量
　unknown ～　未知量，难以预测的人或事
　in ～　数量上
　in great ～　大量
　a ～ of　一定量的，一些，许多
　～ of electricity　电量
　～ of heat　热量

　Mathematics is the science of pure quantity.　数学是研究纯数量的科学。
　It was a bad year for new films, in terms of both quantity and quality.　今年的新电影无论从数量还是质量上都说不上好。
　The farmers guarantee the quantity and quality of the vegetables that are delivered.　农民们保证交售蔬菜的质量和数量。
　What quantity do you require?　你要求多大的数量?
　He buys things in quantity.　他总是大宗采购物品。
　Amateurs of this splendid wine will surely rejoice to learn that a limited quantity will be available.　这种美酒可以限量供应，爱喝此酒的人听了一定会高兴。
　They kept a quantity of lumber in rough in their house.　他们家保存了许多未经加工的木料。
　The man died very suddenly from drinking a small amount of rum after eating a large quantity of bananas.　那人吃了很多香蕉，然后喝了点朗姆酒，突然就死了。
　We've had quantities of rain this summer.　今年夏天雨下得很多。
　We have quantities of water pipes.　我们有大量的水管。
　It hides large quantities of nuts inside the trees.　它在树洞里藏了大量的坚果。
　Great quantities of fish are caught.　捕到大量的鱼。
　Large quantities of water are needed for cooling purpose.　冷却要用大量的水。
　Quantities of flowers appear in the park in spring.　春季公园里有许多花。

 ♣ unknown quantity
　难以预测的人〔事〕　unpredictable person or thing
　To her the outside world was a totally unknown quantity.　对她来说，外部世界完全是个未知数。
　I won my game against Clive because I know the way he plays, but the chap I have to meet in the next round is a completely unknown quantity.　我赢了克莱夫，因为我知道他的底细，但下一轮我遇上的那个小伙子却完全难以预测。

 ♣ quantity, aggregate, amount, number, sum, total, whole
　参见aggregate条。

1. 你认为数量和质量哪个更重要?
　［误］ Which do you think is more important, quantities or qualities?
　［正］ Which do you think is more important, quantity or quality?
　你如果大量采购东西，就能节省很多钱。
　［误］ You can save a lot if you buy thing in quantities.
　［正］ You can save a lot if you buy thing in quantity.
　［析］ quantity作“数量”解时是不可数名词。
2. 船里有大量的鱼。
　［误］ There are a large quantity of fish in the boat.
　［正］ There is a large quantity of fish in the boat.
　印刷了大量的书。
　［误］ A large quantity of books was printed.
　［正］ A large quantity of books were printed.
　这个镇去年浪费了大量的水。
　［误］ Quantities of water was wasted in this town last year.
　［正］ Quantities of water were wasted in this town last year.
　就在圣诞节以前还有过许多购买东西的顾客。
　［误］ There was large quantities of shoppers just before Christmas.
　［正］ There were large quantities of shoppers just before Christmas.
　［析］ 表示“大量”的有两种形式：a large quantity of和large quantities of. a quantity of接不可数名词时，谓语动词用单数形式，接可数名词复数时，谓语动词用复数形式；quantities of无论是修饰不可数名词，还是可数名词复数，谓语动词都要用复数形式。

　［同义词］ amount, capacity, lot, measure, number, part, share, sum, total, weight
　［词源］　古法语quantite<拉丁语quantitas（量，数量）