age noun ⇨age (at the age of 18)⇨period (the nuclear age)⇨years (It's an age since I saw him.)
age
noun
age ♦︎ generation ♦︎ age group ♦︎ peer groupThese are all words for the number of years that a person has lived, or a group of people who have lived for about the same number of years.这些词均表示年龄或同龄人。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆the younger / older generation / age group◆people of your own age / generation◆people of all ages / generations / age groups■age [countable, uncountable] the number of years that a person has lived or a thing has existed; a particular period of a person's life年龄；年龄段◆He left school at the age of 18.他18岁读完中学。◆children from 5-10 years of age5到10岁的儿童◆When I was your age I was already married.我在你这个年纪已经结婚了。◆He started playing the piano at an early age.他幼年就开始弹钢琴。◆She was beginning to feel her age(= feel that she was getting old).她开始感到自己上年纪了。◆ways of calculating the age of the earth计算地球年龄的方法◆15 is an awkward age.15岁是个尴尬的年龄。◆It was only now, in middle age, that she was beginning to enjoy life.直到现在，人到中年时，她才开始享受生活。◆He died of old age.他终其天年。■generation [countable + singular or plural verb, uncountable] all the people who were born at about the same time; a single stage in the history of a family; a group of people of similar age involved in a particular activity（统称）一代人；（家族史中的）一代；一批（参与某活动的同龄人）◆The older generation tends to have more traditional views.老一辈人常常有较传统的观念。◆My generation has grown up without the experience of a world war.我们这一代人没有经历过世界大战。◆I often wonder what future generations will make of our efforts.我常常想，后人将怎样评价我们的努力。◆These stories were passed down from generation to generation.这些故事一代一代传了下来。◆a first- / second-generation American(= a person whose family has lived in America for one / two generations)第一代／第二代美国人◆She has inspired a whole generation of fashion school graduates.她激励了一整届时装学校的毕业生。 see also generation ⇨ period■ˈage group [countable] people of a similar age or within a particular range of ages年龄组；年龄段◆men in the older age group较高年龄段的男性◆education for the 16-18 age group16至18岁年龄段的教育■ˈpeer group [countable] a group of people of the same age or social status同龄群体；社会地位相同的群体◆She gets on well with her peer group.她和同龄人相处融洽。◆He started smoking because of peer-group pressure.由于无法抗拒同侪压力，他开始吸烟。 see also peer ⇨ peerNOTE辨析 Generation, age group or peer group?Your generation is people who are nearer your age than your parents' or your children's ages. Your age group may be a much narrower range of ages: age group is often used in official forms and figures, and the exact range of ages may be stated. * generation指一代人，如你和你的父母、你和儿女分属两代人；age group所指年龄段更窄，常见于官方表格或数据，而且可能会具体说明所指年龄范围◆the 16-18 generation/peer groupYour peer group includes the people of your own age that you actually know and are influenced by. * peer group指那些与你同龄、你认识并受其影响的人◆She gets on well with her generation/age group.
period
noun
period ♦︎ century ♦︎ decade ♦︎ day ♦︎ time ♦︎ era ♦︎ age ♦︎ generation ♦︎ epochThese are all words for a length of time, especially in the life of a particular person or the history of a particular country.这些词均表示时期。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆in a period / the ... century / a decade / ...day(s) / the time of... / ...times / an era / the age of... / a generation / an epoch◆during the period / century / decade / days / era / age / epoch◆a new period / century / decade / era / generation / epoch◆(the) present period / century / decade / day / time / era / generation / epoch◆(the) modern period / day / time / era / age◆(the) medieval / Victorian / post-war, etc. period / days / time / era◆to enter a period / a century / a decade / an era / an age◆to usher in a period / an era / an age◆a period / a century / a decade / a time / an era / an age begins / ends◆the beginning / end of a period / a century / a decade / an era / an age / an epoch■period [countable] a length of time in the history of a particular country or in the life of a particular person（国家历史或人生的）时期，时代◆Which period of history would you most like to have lived in?你最想生活在哪一个历史时期？◆This textbook covers the post-war period.这一课本包含战后时期的历史。◆The picture was painted by Picasso during his blue period.这幅画是毕加索消沉时期的作品。◆Most teenagers go through a period of rebelling.大多数青少年都会经历叛逆期。ⓘ Period is often used to describe a time in a country's history that is studied as a historical subject. * period常指某一国家历史上作为研究课题的一个时期。 see also period ⇨ time2■century [countable] a period of 100 years; any of the periods of 100 years before or after the birth of Christ * 100年；世纪◆A century ago, weavers and bricklayers in this working class district won some of the earliest strikes for the ten-hour day.一百年前，在这个工人阶级聚集的地区，织布工人和瓦工们的一些早期罢工取得了胜利，争取到了十小时工作制。◆the 20th century(= AD 1901-2000 or 1900-1999)20世纪◆eighteenth-century writers18世纪的作家■decade [countable] a period of ten years, especially a period such as 1910-1919 or 2000-2009十年，十年期（尤指一个年代）◆The effects of climate change have been increasingly apparent over the last decade.过去十年间，气候变化产生的影响越来越明显。◆The nineties were a decade of rapid advances.90年代是迅猛发展的十年。■day [countable, usually plural] a period of time that is different from other periods because of particular characteristics or events（特别的）时期，时代◆Dickens gives us a vivid picture of poverty in Queen Victoria's day.狄更斯为我们生动地描绘了维多利亚女王时代贫困潦倒的画面。◆Most women stayed at home in those days(= in the past).在那个时代，大多数妇女都待在家里。◆Kids grow up so quickly these days(= in the present).如今孩子长得多快啊。◆This book is a study of European drama, from Ibsen to the present day.本书是对欧洲戏剧的研究，研究范围从易卜生一直到当代戏剧家。◆Slavery continues to exist, even in this day and age(= in the present).即使在今天这个时代，奴役的情况依然存在。 see also in sb's day ⇨ life2■time [uncountable, plural] a period of time that is connected with particular events or experiences in people's lives时期；时代；年代◆The movie is set at the time of the Russian revolution.这部影片以俄国革命时期为背景。◆The Industrial Revolution took place in Victorian times.工业革命发生在维多利亚时代。◆The violence of our times(= the present period of history) is nothing new.在我们这个时代，暴力并非什么新鲜事。◆Times are hard for the unemployed.对于失业者来说，世道艰难。◆Times have changed since Grandma was young.时过境迁，现在已不是祖母年轻时那会儿了。 see also time ⇨ time2■era /ˈɪərə; NAmEˈɪrə, ˈerə/ [countable] (ratherformal) a long period of time that is thought of as having particular characteristics or events（时间跨度大，具有独特性的）时代，年代，纪元◆It is one of the most famous churches built in the Victorian era.那是维多利亚时代建造的最有名的教堂之一。◆When she left the firm, it was the end of an era(= things were different after that).她离开这家公司后，一个时代结束了。◆This is the start of a new era of peace and prosperity.这是一个和平繁荣的新纪元的开始。■age [countable] a period of time, usually in history, that is different from other periods, especially because it represents a stage in the development of technology or tools（尤指历史上代表技术或工具发展新阶段的）时代，时期◆Are the laws of war still relevant in the nuclear age?战争法则在核时代仍然适用吗？◆This is the age of the computer.现在是电脑时代。◆They dug up several examples of Bronze Age pottery.他们掘出了几件青铜器时期的陶器。◆The golden age of cinema was in the 1950s.20世纪50年代是电影业的黄金时期。◆The museum is putting on an exhibition of spinning through the ages.博物馆正推出一个纺纱历史沿革展览。■generation [countable] the average time in which children grow up, become adults and have children of their own, usually considered to be about 30 years代，一代，一辈（通常认为大约30年）◆Divorce is much more common now than it was a generation ago.如今离婚现象比上一代常见多了。◆My family have lived in this house for generations.我家祖祖辈辈都住在这房子里。 see also generation ⇨ age■epoch /ˈiːpɒk; NAmEˈepək/ [countable] (formal) a long period of time in history during which important events or changes happen（时间跨度大、有重要事件或变革发生的）时代，纪元，时期◆The death of the emperor marked the end of an epoch in the country's history.皇帝驾崩标志着该国历史上一个时代的结束。NOTE辨析 Day, time, era, age or epoch?Era, age and epoch are used more often to mean a period in history. Day and time are often used, especially in the plural, to talk about the present. * era、age和epoch常指一个历史时期。day和time常表示现在，尤用复数形式◆these days如今◆modern times现代When day or time means a period in history, it is often used after a person's name. * day或time表示历史时期时，常用在一个人名的后面◆The battle happened in King Alfred's day.这场战争发生在阿尔弗烈德国王时代。◆The family was very poor in my great grandmother's time.我曾祖母那个时候，家里很穷。
years
noun
years ♦︎ months ♦︎ hours ♦︎ ages ♦︎ an eternity ♦︎ aeonThese are all words for a long time.这些词均表示很长时间。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆for years / months / hours / ages / an eternity / aeons◆years / months / hours / ages / an eternity / aeons ago◆to spend / take / wait years / months / hours / ages / an eternity◆years / months / hours elapse / go by / pass■years [plural] (informal) a long time, especially a period of several years数年；很长时间◆It's been years since we last met.我们多年没有见面了。◆They haven't seen each other for years.他们已多年没有见面了。◆That's the best movie I've seen in years.那是我多年来看过的最好的电影。■months [plural] a long time, especially a period of several months数月；很长时间◆He had to wait for months for the visas to come through.他不得不等好几个月才领到签证。◆It will be months before we get the results.我们要等很长时间才能得到结果。■hours [plural] a long time, especially a period of several hours数小时；很长时间◆I've been waiting for hours.我等了好久了。■ages [plural] (especially BrE) (BrE alsoan age [singular]) (informal) a long time很长时间◆I waited for ages.我等了好长时间。◆'How long have you been here?' 'Ages.'“你在这儿多久了？”“老半天了。”◆It's been an age since we've seen them.我们有好些日子没见到他们了。■an eternity [singular] (informal) a period of time that seems to be very long or to never end（似乎）无穷无尽的一段时间◆After what seemed like an eternity the nurse returned with the results of the test.过了漫长的一段时间后护士才拿着检验结果回来。■aeon (BrE) ( eon, especially in NAmE) / /ˈiːən/ / [countable] (formal) an extremely long period of time; thousands of years极漫长的时期；千万年◆These hills have been worn down over aeons of geological time.这些山丘经过漫长的地质时期已经侵蚀得很厉害。◆Only yesterday－and it seemed eons ago, not just a few hours－he had been a happily married man.昨天他还是个婚姻美满的人，但那好像是上辈子的事了，而不是才过去几小时。