◙ adjective 1. doing something or taking place after the expected, proper, or usual time • 晚的，迟的 »his late arrival. 他的迟来。 »she was half an hour late for her lunch appointment. 她午餐约会晚到了半个小时。 2. belonging or taking place far on in a particular time or period • 迟来的 »they won the game with a late goal. 他们以迟来的进球赢得了比赛。 [attrib.] denoting the advanced stage of a period • （时段）晚期的，末期的 »the late 1960s. 20世纪60年代后期。 »arriving in the late afternoon. 下午很晚才到达。 far on in the day or night • （时间）晚的 »I'm sorry the call is so late. 对不起这么晚给您打电话。 »it's too late for sherry. 现在喝雪利酒太晚了。 originating at a point far on in an artistic period or artist's life • （艺术时期，艺术家生涯）晚期，后期 »his highly abstracted late landscapes. 他晚期高度抽象派的风景画。 »late Gothic style. 晚期哥特风格。 flowering or ripening towards the end of the season • （花，果实）晚期的，后期的 »the last late chrysanthemums. 最后的晚期开放菊花。 3. (the/one's late)(of a specified person) no longer alive • （人）已故的 »the late Francis Bacon. 已故的弗朗西斯•培根。 »her late husband's grave. 她亡夫的坟墓。 no longer having the specified status;former • 原来的，以前的 »a late colleague of mine. 一个我原来的同事。 4. (latest)of recent date • 最近的，最新的 »the latest news. 最新消息。 ◙ adverb 1. after the expected, proper, or usual time • 迟，晚 »she arrived late. 她迟到了。 2. far on in time; towards the end of a period • 后期，末期 »it happened late in1984. 这发生在1984年晚些时候。 at or until a time far on in the day or night • （时间）晚 »now I'm old enough to stay up late. 现在我够大了，可以迟睡了。 (later)at a time in the near future;afterwards • 不久以后 »I'll see you later. 回头见。 » later on it will be easier. 稍后这就会容易一些。 3. (late of)formerly but not now living or working in a specified place or institution • 以前，原 »Mrs Halford, late of the County Records Office. 哈尔福特夫人，原就职于郡档案室。 ◙ noun 1. (the latest)the most recent news or fashion • 最新消息，最新款式 »have you heard the latest? 你听说最新消息了吗？
【IDIOMS】
◘ at the latest 1. no later than the time specified • 最迟，最晚 »all new cars will be required to meet this standard by 1997 at the latest. 要求所有的新车最迟于1997年前达到这一标准。 ◘ late in the day (或北美 1. at a late stage in proceedings, especially too late to be useful • 为时已晚，时机已过 »you've realized it a little late in the day. 你已经认识到了，不过为时已晚。 ◘ of late 1. recently • 最近，近来 »she'd been drinking too much of late. 她最近喝得太多。
【派生】
♦ lateness noun
【语源】
1. Old English læt (adjective; also in the senseslow, tardy), late (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to German lass, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin lassus 'weary', let, and let