a distinctive mode of pronounciation of a language, especially one associated with a particular country, area, or social class (某特定国家、地区或社会阶层的)口音;腔调 a strong American accent. 很重的美国口音。 ■the mode of pronunciation used by native speakers of a language 土音 she never mastered the French accent. 她从未掌握过法国本地音。
a distinct emphasis given to a syllable or word in speech by stress or pitch 重音 ■a mark on a letter or word to indicate pitch, stress, or vowel quality 重音符号 ■(Music)an emphasis on a particular note or chord (乐)(音符或和音的)重音
[in sing.]a special or particular emphasis 注重,强调 the accent is on participation. 重要的是参与。 ■a feature which gives a distinctive visual emphasis to something (增强视觉效果的)高光 blue woodwork and accents of red. 蓝色木工制品和红色的高光。
verb
[with obj.]emphasize (a particular feature) 强调,突出 fabrics which accent the background colours in the room. 衬托房内背景色调的织物。 ■(Music)play (a note or beat) with emphasis (乐)以重音演奏
派生 accentual adjective 语源
late Middle English (in the sense intonation): from Latin accentus 'tone, signal, or intensity' (from ad- 'to' + cantus 'song'), translating Greek prosōidia 'a song sung to Music, intonation'