1. vt.精确地解释；界定　 state precisely the meaning of words; interpret
2. vt.规定，确定　 stipulate; fix

　～ the boundaries　明确地界
　～ an expression〔a word〕　解释某个词语
　～ one's meaning　明确某人的意思
　～ one's position　明确某人的地位
　～ the shape of the building　衬托着大楼的形状
　～ a square as a rectangle with four equal sides　正方形定义为四边相等的方形
　～ well　划分明白
　～ boldly　大胆解释
　～ brilliantly　明智地解释
　～ cleanly　清晰地定义
　～ clearly　明确划分
　～ closely　严密地解释
　～ commonly　普通定义
　～ crudely　无理地解释
　～ exactly　精确地解释
　～ informally　非正式地解释
　～ insufficiently　不严格地解释
　～ interestingly　有趣地解释
　～ particularly　特别解释
　～ possibly　可能地解释
　～ precisely　确切地下定义
　～ rigidly　从严格定义上说
　～ sharply　尖锐地解释
　～ technically　熟练地解释
　～ usually　普通解释
　～ against　衬托
　～ as　说成是，定义为，解释为
　～ by　被…规定
　～ with　用…立界

　Please define the words.　请准确地解释这些字的意义。
　I can't define the word.　我说不出这个字的准确意思。
　Some words are hard to define because they have many different usages.　有些单词因有许多不同的用法而难以下定义。
　Can you define the word project?　你能解释project这个词的意义吗?
　Please listen while I define your duties.　在我规定你的职责时，请仔细听好。
　The powers of a judge are defined by law.　法官的权限是由法律规定的。
　The powers of a president are defined in the constitution.　总统的权力在宪法里做了规定。
　When boundaries between countries are not clearly defined, there is usually trouble.　国与国之间的国界未明确划定时，常发生纠纷。
　The mountain was clearly defined against the eastern sky.　那山被东方的天际衬托着，轮廓分明。
　The Constitution defines that women enjoy exactly the same rights as men.　《宪法》规定妇女享有与男子完全相同的权利。
　I cannot define what that something is.　某事物究竟是什么，我无法精确地解释。
　You can define the word difficult as not easy.　你可以把difficult解释为not easy.
　We usually define energy as the ability to do work.　我们通常定义energy是做功的能力。
　In the contract agreed between the union and the employers, overtime is defined as work after 6 p.m. on weekdays, and anytime on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.　根据工会和雇主达成的协定，加班时间定为平时每天下午六点以后以及星期六、日及公休日的全部时间。

 ♣ define, assign, prescribe
　这组词的共同意思是“规定”。其区别是：define是指为了避免混乱等而确定范围；assign的本义是分配、分派任务的意思；而prescribe是指作为规则、方针而加以确定。