first

det.

ordinal number

1. 第一
   happening or coming before all other similar things or people; 1st
   1. his first wife
      他的第一个妻子
   2. It was the first time they had ever met.
      这是他们初次见面。
   3. I didn't take the first bus.
      我没有乘坐首班公共汽车。
   4. students in their first year at college
      大学一年级学生
   5. your first impressions
      你的初步印象
   6. She resolved to do it at the first (= earliest) opportunity.
      她决定一有机会就去做。
   7. King Edward I (= said as ‘King Edward the First’)
      英王爱德华一世
   8. the first of May/May 1st
      5月1日
   9. His second book is better than his first.
      他的第二部书比第一部好。
2. 最重要的；首要的；最优秀的
   the most important or best
   1. Your first duty is to your family.
      你首要的是对家庭尽责。
   2. She won first prize in the competition.
      她在竞赛中获得头奖。
   3. an issue of the first importance
      最重要的问题

adv.

1. 首先；第一；最初
   before anyone or anything else; at the beginning
   1. ‘Do you want a drink?’ ‘I'll finish my work first.’
      “你想喝杯饮料吗？”“我要先完成工作。”
   2. First I had to decide what to wear.
      首先我得决定穿什么。
   3. Who came first in the race (= who won) ?
      赛跑谁第一？
   4. It plunged nose first into the river.
      它一头跳入水中。
2. 第一次；首次
   for the first time
   1. When did you first meet him?
      你和他初次见面是何时？
3. （列举时用）第一，首先
   used to introduce the first of a list of points you want to make in a speech or piece of writing
   1. This method has two advantages: first it is cheaper and second it is quicker.
      这个方法有两个优点：一是更便宜，二是较快。
4. （强调不愿意）宁可，宁愿
   used to emphasize that you are determined not to do sth
   1. She swore that she wouldn't apologize─she'd die first!
      她发誓决不道歉——宁死也不！

noun

1. 第一个人（或事物）
   the first person or thing mentioned; the first person or thing to do a particular thing
   1. I was the first in my family to go to college.
      我是我们家第一个大学生。
   2. Sheila and Jim were the first to arrive.
      希拉和吉姆最先到的。
   3. I'd be the first to admit (= I will most willingly admit) I might be wrong.
      我非常愿意承认我可能错了。
   4. The first I heard about the wedding (= the first time I became aware of it) was when I saw it in the local paper.
      我最初知道他们结婚的消息是从当地报纸上看到的。
2. 空前的成就；前所未有的事情
   an achievement, event, etc., never done or experienced before
   1. We went on a cruise, a first for both of us.
      我俩都是平生第一次去海上旅游。
3. （汽车、自行车等的）一挡，最低挡
   the lowest gear on a car, bicycle, etc. that you use when you are moving slowly
   1. He stuck the car in first and revved.
      他挂上了一挡，开动了汽车。
4. （英国大学学位）最高成绩，优等成绩
   the highest level of university degree at British universities
   1. She got a first in maths at Exeter.
      她在埃克塞特大学毕业，获数学一级优等学位。

1. ORD 最早的;最先的;第一位的
   The first thing, person, event, or period of time is the one that happens or comes before all the others of the same kind.
   1. She lost 16 pounds in the first month of her diet.
      她节食的头一个月就减掉了16磅。
   2. ...the first few flakes of snow...
      初落的几片雪花
   3. Two years ago Johnson came first in the one hundred metres at Seoul.
      两年前约翰逊在首尔获得100米短跑冠军。
   4. First is also a pronoun.
      
   5. The second paragraph startled me even more than the first...
      第二段比第一段更让我吃惊。
   6. He put me through a series of exercises to improve my car control. The first was to drive on simulated ice.
      他让我进行一系列的练习以提高我的控车能力。第一项就是在模拟冰面上驾车。
2. ADV 最早;最先;先
   If you do something first, you do it before anyone else does, or before you do anything else.
   1. I do not remember who spoke first, but we all expressed the same opinion...
      我不记得是谁最先发言的，但我们全都表达了相同的看法。
   2. First, tell me what you think of my products...
      先谈谈你觉得我的产品怎么样吧。
   3. Routine questions first, if you don't mind.
      如果不介意的话，请先回答一些例行问题吧。
3. ORD 第一(次)的;首(次)的
   When something happens or is done for the first time, it has never happened or been done before.
   1. This is the first time she has experienced disappointment...
      这是她第一次感受到失望。
   2. It was the first occasion when they had both found it possible to keep a rendezvous.
      他们两人都能赴约，这还是头一遭。
   3. First is also an adverb.
      
   4. Anne and Steve got engaged two years after they had first started going out...
      在第一次约会两年后，安妮和史蒂夫订婚了。
   5. I met him first at his house where we had a chat.
      我初次见他是在他家里，当时我们聊了一会儿。
4. N-SING 首次出现的事物;首例
   An event that is described as a first has never happened before and is important or exciting.
   1. It is a first for New York. An outdoor exhibition of Fernando Botero's sculpture on Park Avenue.
      在公园大道上露天展出费尔南多·博特罗的雕塑，这在纽约还是破天荒的事。
5. PRON 第一次;首次
   The first you hear of something or the first you know about it is the time when you first become aware of it.
   1. We heard it on the TV last night — that was the first we heard of it...
      昨晚我们在电视上听到了这件事——那是我们头回听说。
   2. When Mark arrived home that afternoon, it was the first he knew for sure of the surprise party.
      马克那天下午回到家时是他第一次确切知道有惊喜派对这回事。
6. ADV 最初;起初;开始
   You use first when you are talking about what happens in the early part of an event or experience, in contrast to what happens later.
   1. When he first came home he wouldn't say anything about what he'd been doing.
      刚回到家时，他只字不提自己一直在做什么。
   2. First is also an ordinal.
      
   3. She told him that her first reaction was disgust...
      她告诉他自己的第一反应是厌恶。
   4. My first feeling on getting into the cabin was one of dislike for everything I saw.
      我走进小木屋时的最初感觉是眼前的东西我都不喜欢。
7. ADV (强调不愿意做某事)宁可，宁愿
   In order to emphasize your determination not to do a particular thing, you can say that rather than do it, you would do something else first .
   1. Marry that fat son of a fat cattle dealer? She would die first!
      嫁给那个大腹便便的牛贩子的胖儿子？她宁愿去死！
8. ADV (用于列举条目)第一，首先
   You use first when you are about to give the first in a series of items.
   1. Certain guidelines can be given. First, have a heating engineer check the safety of the system.
      可以提供一些指导原则：第一，找位供暖工程师检查系统的安全性。
9. ORD (一列中)离得最近的，最前面的
   The first thing, person, or place in a line is the one that is nearest to you or nearest to the front.
   1. Before him, in the first row, sat the President...
      在他面前第一排坐着总统。
   2. First in the queue were two Japanese students.
      队伍最前面是两个日本学生。
10. ORD 首要的;头等的
    You use first to refer to the best or most important thing or person of a particular kind.
    1. The first duty of any government must be to protect the interests of the taxpayers...
       任何政府的首要职责都必须是保护纳税人的利益。
    2. Imagine winning the local lottery first prize of £5,000.
       想象一下中个5,000英镑的当地彩票头奖吧。
    3. ...first team football.
       一线队足球
11. ORD (用于工作或职位的头衔中)最高的
    First is used in the title of the job or position of someone who has a higher rank than anyone else with the same basic job title.
    1. ...the First Lord of the Admiralty.
       海军大臣
    2. ...the first mate of a British tanker.
       一艘英国油轮的大副
12. N-COUNT (英国大学的)优等学位，一级荣誉学位
    In British universities, a first is an honours degree of the highest standard.
    1. ...an Oxford Blue who took a First in Constitutional History.
       获得宪法史优等学位的牛津大学校队运动员
13. PHRASE 第一;首先
    You use first of all to introduce the first of a number of things that you want to say.
    1. The cut in the interest rates has not had very much impact in California for two reasons. First of all, banks are still afraid to loan.
       降息在加利福尼亚并未产生多大影响，原因有二。首先，银行仍然不敢放贷。
14. PHRASE 最初;起初;开始时
    You use at first when you are talking about what happens in the early stages of an event or experience, or just after something else has happened, in contrast to what happens later.
    1. At first, he seemed surprised by my questions...
       起初，他似乎对我的问题感到惊讶。
    2. I had some difficulty at first recalling why we were there.
       刚开始回想我们为什么会在那儿时我有些费劲。
15. PHRASE 居于首要地位;占据头等位置
    If you say that someone or something comes first for a particular person, you mean they treat or consider that person or thing as more important than anything else.
    1. There's no time for boyfriends, my career comes first.
       我没时间交男朋友，事业对我来说是第一位的。
16. PHRASE 先到先接待;先到先供应;按先来后到对待
    You say 'first come first served' to indicate that a group of people or things will be dealt with or given something in the order in which they arrive.
    1. There will be five buses, first come first served.
       会有5辆巴士，先到先上。
17. PHRASE 从最初;从一开始
    From the first means ever since something started.
    1. You knew about me from the first, didn't you?...
       从一开始你就知道我，对吧？
    2. I thought from the first that she was a little unsure about that marriage.
       从一开始我就觉得她对那桩婚事心里没底。
18. PHRASE 第一手地;直接;亲自
    If you learn or experience something at first hand, you experience it yourself or learn it directly rather than being told about it by other people.
    1. He arrived in Natal to see at first hand the effects of the recent heavy fighting.
       他来到纳塔尔亲自了解最近发生的激烈冲突造成的后果。
19. PHRASE 对…一无所知;对…毫不知晓
    If you say that you do not know the first thing about something, you are emphasizing that you know absolutely nothing about it.
    1. You don't know the first thing about farming.
       你对种地一窍不通。
20. PHRASE 第一;首先
    You use first off to introduce the first of a number of things that you want to say.
    1. First off, huge apologies for last month's confusing report.
       首先，要对上个月那篇交代不清的报道表示深深的歉意。
21. PHRASE 视…为最重要;把…放在首位
    If you put someone or something first, you treat or consider them as more important than anything else.
    1. Somebody has to think for the child and put him first.
       必须有人替孩子着想，把他放在第一位。
22. PHRASE 最重要的先做;最要紧的先处理
    You say 'first things first' when you are talking about something that should be done or dealt with before anything else because it is the most important.
    1. Let's see if we can't find something to set the mood. First things first; some music.
       看看我们能不能找点什么烘托一下气氛。当务之急：来点音乐吧。
23. first and foremost → see: foremost

1. I faxed a first draft of this article to him.
   我将这篇文章的初稿传真给他了。
2. She lost 16 pounds in the first month of her diet.
   她节食的头一个月就减掉了16磅。
3. Two years ago Johnson came first in the one hundred metres at Seoul.
   两年前约翰逊在首尔获得100米短跑冠军。
4. I do not remember who spoke first, but we all expressed the same opinion
   我不记得是谁最先发言的，但我们全都表达了相同的看法。
5. First, tell me what you think of my products
   先谈谈你觉得我的产品怎么样吧。
6. Routine questions first, if you don't mind.
   如果不介意的话，请先回答一些例行问题吧。
7. This is the first time she has experienced disappointment
   这是她第一次感受到失望。
8. It was the first occasion when they had both found it possible to keep a rendezvous.
   他们两人都能赴约，这还是头一遭。
9. It is a first for New York. An outdoor exhibition of Fernando Botero's sculpture on Park Avenue.
   在公园大道上露天展出费尔南多·博特罗的雕塑，这在纽约还是破天荒的事。
10. We heard it on the TV last night — that was the first we heard of it
    昨晚我们在电视上听到了这件事——那是我们头回听说。
11. When Mark arrived home that afternoon, it was the first he knew for sure of the surprise party.
    马克那天下午回到家时是他第一次确切知道有惊喜派对这回事。
12. When he first came home he wouldn't say anything about what he'd been doing.
    刚回到家时，他只字不提自己一直在做什么。
13. Marry that fat son of a fat cattle dealer? She would die first!
    嫁给那个大腹便便的牛贩子的胖儿子？她宁愿去死！
14. Certain guidelines can be given. First, have a heating engineer check the safety of the system.
    可以提供一些指导原则：第一，找位供暖工程师检查系统的安全性。
15. Before him, in the first row, sat the President
    在他面前第一排坐着总统。
16. First in the queue were two Japanese students.
    队伍最前面是两个日本学生。
17. The first duty of any government must be to protect the interests of the taxpayers
    任何政府的首要职责都必须是保护纳税人的利益。
18. The cut in the interest rates has not had very much impact in California for two reasons. First of all, banks are still afraid to loan.
    降息在加利福尼亚并未产生多大影响，原因有二。首先，银行仍然不敢放贷。
19. I had some difficulty at first recalling why we were there.
    刚开始回想我们为什么会在那儿时我有些费劲。
20. There's no time for boyfriends, my career comes first.
    我没时间交男朋友，事业对我来说是第一位的。
21. You knew about me from the first, didn't you?
    从一开始你就知道我，对吧？
22. I thought from the first that she was a little unsure about that marriage.
    从一开始我就觉得她对那桩婚事心里没底。
23. He arrived in Natal to see at first hand the effects of the recent heavy fighting.
    他来到纳塔尔亲自了解最近发生的激烈冲突造成的后果。
24. You don't know the first thing about farming.
    你对种地一窍不通。
25. First off, huge apologies for last month's confusing report.
    首先，要对上个月那篇交代不清的报道表示深深的歉意。
26. Somebody has to think for the child and put him first.
    必须有人替孩子着想，把他放在第一位。
27. Let's see if we can't find something to set the mood. First things first; some music.
    看看我们能不能找点什么烘托一下气氛。当务之急：来点音乐吧。
28. He got the first prize.
    他中了头奖。

ordinal number

there's a first time for everything

• 没有发生的事情并不意味着永远不会发生；什么事情都有第一次
  the fact that sth has not happened before does not mean that it will never happen

of a high order

of the highest/first order

• 高质量的；高品质的；一流的
  of a high quality or degree; of the highest quality or greatest degree
  1. The job requires diplomatic skills of a high order.
     这项工作要求高超的外交技巧。
  2. She was a snob of the first order.
     她是天字第一号势利鬼。

adv.

at first

• 起初；起先
  at or in the beginning
  1. I didn't like the job much at first.
     起初我并不很喜欢这个工作。
  2. At first I thought he was shy, but then I discovered he was just not interested in other people.
     起先我以为他腼腆，后来才发现他对别人没兴趣。
  3. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
     一次不成功就反复尝试。

come first

• 首要；第一；首先要考虑的
  to be considered more important than anything else
  1. In any decision she makes, her family always comes first.
     她作任何决定都是家庭第一。

first and foremost

• 首要的是；首先
  more than anything else
  1. He does a little teaching, but first and foremost he's a writer.
     他干一点教学，但首要的是写作。

first and last

• 从各方面看；完全地
  in every way that is important; completely
  1. She regarded herself, first and last, as a musician.
     她认为她自己是一个不折不扣的音乐家。

first come, first served

• 先来先接待；先到先供应；按先来后到对待
  people will be dealt with, seen, etc. strictly in the order in which they arrive
  1. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.
     票先来先买，售完为止。

first of all

• 第一；首先
  before doing anything else; at the beginning
  1. First of all, let me ask you something.
     首先，让我问你一件事。
• 最重要；首先
  as the most important thing
  1. The content of any article needs, first of all, to be relevant to the reader.
     任何文章的内容都首先要与读者有关。

first off

• 首先
  before anything else
  1. First off, let's see how much it'll cost.
     首先咱们看看这要花多少钱。

first up

• 第一；首先
  to start with; before anything else

put sb/sth first

• 认为…最重要；把…放在第一位
  to consider sb/sth to be more important than anyone/anything else
  1. She always puts her children first.
     她总是把子女放在第一位。

feet first

feet first

head first

head first

safety first

• 安全第一
  safety is the most important thing

n.

first among equals

• 第一把手；首要的事物
  the person or thing with the highest status in a group

from the (very) first

• 从一开始
  from the beginning
  1. They were attracted to each other from the first.
     他俩一见倾心。

from first to last

• 从头至尾；自始至终
  from beginning to end; during the whole time
  1. It's a fine performance that commands attention from first to last.
     这是个精彩的演出，自始至终都扣人心弦。

noun

1. the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)

   Synonym:    first base

2. the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle

   Synonym:    first gearlow gearlow

3. an honours degree of the highest class

   Synonym:    first-class honours degree

4. the first element in a countable series
   1. the first of the month

   Synonym:    number onenumber 1

5. the first or highest in an ordering or series
   1. He wanted to be the first

   Synonym:    number one

6. the time at which something is supposed to begin
   1. they got an early start
   2. she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her

   Synonym:    beginningcommencementoutsetget-gostartkickoffstarting timeshowtimeoffset

adj

1. ranking above all others
   1. was first in her class
   2. the foremost figure among marine artists
   3. the top graduate

   Synonym:    foremostworld-class

2. serving to begin
   1. the beginning canto of the poem
   2. the first verse

   Synonym:    beginning(a)

3. serving to set in motion
   1. the magazine's inaugural issue
   2. the initiative phase in the negotiations
   3. an initiatory step toward a treaty
   4. his first (or maiden) speech in Congress
   5. the liner's maiden voyage

   Synonym:    inauguralinitiativeinitiatorymaiden

4. preceding all others in time or space or degree
   1. the first house on the right
   2. the first day of spring
   3. his first political race
   4. her first baby
   5. the first time
   6. the first meetings of the new party
   7. the first phase of his training

5. highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections
   1. first soprano
   2. the first violin section
   3. played first horn

6. indicating the beginning unit in a series

   Synonym:    1st

adv

1. before anything else
   1. first we must consider the garter snake

   Synonym:    firstlyforemostfirst of allfirst off

2. the initial time
   1. when Felix first saw a garter snake

   Synonym:    for the first time

3. prominently forward
   1. he put his best foot foremost

   Synonym:    foremost

4. before another in time, space, or importance
   1. I was here first
   2. let's do this job first