a gift or payment to a common fund or collection 捐献物,捐助物,捐赠物;捐款 the agency is mainly financed from voluntary contributions. 公共服务机构主要靠自愿捐赠提供经费。 ■the part played by a person or thing in bringing about a result or helping something to advance 促成作用;贡献 the major contribution of social scientists to the understanding of political life. 社会科学家对理解政治生活的主要贡献。 ■an article or other piece of writing submitted for publication in a collection (投的)稿件,文稿
语源
late Middle English (denoting a tax or levy): from late Latin contributio(n-), from Latin contribuere 'bring together, add' (see contribute)