(poetic/literary)a highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapour (诗/文)臭味,瘴气 a miasma of stale alcohol hung around him like marsh gas. 他周身是一股沼气似的走味酒气。 ■(figurative)an oppressive or unpleasant atmosphere which surrounds or emanates from something (喻)(环绕或源自某物的)恶浊气氛 a miasma of despair rose from the black workshops. 暗黑的车间让人感到有一种绝望的气氛笼罩着。