first

[fəːst] 1. adj

1) (in series) 第一的 [dìyī de]

For the first time in our lives... — 我们生命中的第一次...

2) (initial) [+ reaction, impression] 最初的 [zuìchū de]

My first reaction was one of horror. — 我最初的反应是害怕。

3) (top) [+ prize, division] 头等的 [tóuděng de]

She won first prize. — 她得了头等奖。

4) (front) [+ row] 第一的 [dìyī de]

We had seats in the first row. — 我们的座位在第一排。

5) (main) [+ duty, responsibility] 首要的 [shǒuyào de]

My first duty is to my patients. — 我首先要对病人负责。

2. adv

1) (before anyone else) [+ speak, arrive] 首先 [shǒuxiān]

Jenny spoke first. — 詹妮首先发言。

2) (before other things) 首先 [shǒuxiān]

But first I had to get a visa. — 但是首先我得先拿到签证。

3) (when listing reasons) 第一 [dìyī]

There were several reasons for this. First, four submarines had been sighted. — 这有几个原因。第一，发现了4艘潜水艇。

4) (for the first time) 第一次 [dìyīcì]

Sophie and Dave first met in the summer of 1910. — 索菲和戴夫第一次是在1910年夏天相遇。

5) (in race, competition) [+ come, finish] 第一名 [dìyīmíng]

Johnson came first in the one hundred metres. — 约翰逊在一百米跑比赛中获得第一名。

3. n

1) u (AUT) also: first gear 一挡 [yīdǎng]

I changed down into first. — 我换到了一挡。

2) c (BRIT: UNIV) 甲等 [jiǎděng]

He got a first in French. — 他的法语得了甲等。

3) c (event) 首次 [shǒucì]

The meeting between financial analysts was a first for the company. — 金融分析家之间的会议在公司里是首次。

* at first — 起先

* first of all — 首先

* the first of January — 1月1号

* in the first instance — 起初

* I'll do it first thing tomorrow — 明天我首先做这件事

* from the (very) first — 从(最)一开始

* to put sb/sth first — 把某人/某事放在第一位

* at first hand — 直接地

* the first I heard/knew of it — 最初我所听到的/所知道的