evaporate
Definitions
To change from a liquid into vapour and so dry up
蒸发；（使）汽化
To disappear gradually and completely
（希望、感觉等）逐渐消失，消散
Root Breakdown
Root-derivede- (out) + vapor (steam) + -ate (verb) = 'to give off as vapor.' Water on a hot pavement is 'breathed out' into the air as mist until the surface is dry. The same image powers the figurative sense: when courage or money evaporates, it quietly leaves until nothing is left.
Root vapor still carries 5 more wordsWhy It Means This
The figurative use is what makes evaporate vivid. Because mist vanishes without a trace and without a sound, English uses evaporate for anything that fades away quietly: 'her enthusiasm evaporated,' 'the profits evaporated.' The word always implies a gradual, complete, unstoppable disappearance — not a sudden break.
Common Collocations
- 1.evaporate quickly迅速蒸发
- 2.water evaporates水分蒸发
- 3.evaporate into thin air化为乌有
Example Sentences
- 1.
The rain quickly evaporated off the hot road.
- 2.
Heat the solution until the water evaporates completely.
- 3.
His confidence evaporated the moment he saw the crowd.
- 4.
Their savings seemed to evaporate during the crisis.
Synonym Comparison
- evaporate — turn from liquid to gas, or fade away quietly and gradually
- vanish — disappear suddenly and completely, often mysteriously
- dissolve — break apart into a liquid (sugar dissolves in tea)
- fade — lose strength, color, or intensity slowly but may not fully go