better

adj.

1. 较好的；更好的
   of a higher standard or less poor quality; not as bad as sth else
   1. We're hoping for better weather tomorrow.
      我们希望明天天气转好。
   2. Her work is getting better and better .
      她的工作干得越来越好了。
   3. He is in a much better mood than usual.
      他的情绪比平时好多了。
   4. The meal couldn't have been better.
      这顿饭再好吃不过了。
   5. There's nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath.
      没有什么比好好地泡个热水澡更舒服的了。
   6. If you can only exercise once a week, that's better than nothing (= better than taking no exercise at all) .
      即便是一个星期锻炼一次，也比完全不锻炼好。
2. 能力更强的；更熟练的
   more able or skilled
   1. She's far better at science than her brother.
      她在理科方面比她的弟弟强得多。
3. 更合适的；更得体的
   more suitable or appropriate
   1. Can you think of a better word than ‘nice’?
      你能找到一个比nice更合适的字眼吗？
   2. It would be better for him to talk to his parents about his problems.
      他把自己的问题同父母谈谈会比较好。
   3. You'd be better going by bus.
      你坐公共汽车去会更好些。
4. （病势）好转的，见轻的；舒畅些的
   less ill/sick or unhappy
   1. She's a lot better today.
      她今天好多了。
   2. His leg was getting better.
      他的腿在渐渐恢复。
   3. You'll feel all the better for a good night's sleep.
      你晚上睡个好觉就会感觉好得多。

adv.

1. 更好；更愉快；不那么差
   in a more excellent or pleasant way; not as badly
   1. She sings much better than I do.
      她的歌唱得比我好得多。
   2. Sound travels better in water than in air.
      声音在水中比在空气中传播得快。
   3. People are better educated now.
      现在人们教育程度更高了。
2. 更；较大程度地
   more; to a greater degree
   1. You'll like her when you know her better.
      你对她了解得多一点就会喜欢她。
   2. A cup of tea? There's nothing I'd like better!
      一杯茶？那最好不过了！
   3. Fit people are better able to cope with stress.
      健康的人较能应付压力。
3. 更妥；更恰当
   used to suggest that sth would be a suitable or appropriate thing to do
   1. The money could be better spent on more urgent cases.
      这笔钱用于较紧迫的事情也许会好些。
   2. Some things are better left unsaid.
      有些事还是不提为好。
   3. You'd do better to tell her everything before she finds out from someone else.
      你把一切都告诉她才是上策，免得她从别人口中听到。

noun

1. 更好的事物；较好者
   something that is better
   1. the better of the two books
      两本书中较好的一本
   2. I expected better of him (= I thought he would have behaved better) .
      我本以为他会表现得好一些。
2. 更有才智者；更主要的人
   people who are more intelligent or more important than you

verb

1. 胜过；超过
   to be better or do sth better than sb/sth else
   1. The work he produced early in his career has never really been bettered.
      他后来没出过什么作品能真正比得上他的早期作品。
2. （通过教育、更好的工作等）改进社会地位，上进
   to improve your social position through education, a better job, etc.
   1. Thousands of Victorian workers joined educational associations in an attempt to better themselves.
      维多利亚时代成千上万名工人加入了各种教育协会，以求上进。

1. 
   Better is the comparative of good .
2. 
   Better is the comparative of well .
3. ADV-COMPAR 更；更大程度上
   If you like one thing better than another, you like it more.
   1. I like your interpretation better than the one I was taught...
      你的解释比我以前学过的更让我喜欢。
   2. I'd like nothing better than to join you girls...
      我最喜欢和你们女孩子在一起了。
   3. They liked it better when it rained.
      他们更喜欢雨天。
4. ADJ-GRADED （病情、伤势）好转的，减轻的
   If you are better after an illness or injury, you have recovered from it. If you feel better, you no longer feel so ill.
   1. He is much better now, he's fine...
      他现在好多了，身体状况不错。
   2. The doctors were saying there wasn't much hope of me getting better.
      医生们说我好转的希望不大。
5. PHR-MODAL （用于建议、警告、威胁、发表意见等）最好
   You use had better or 'd better when you are advising, warning, or threatening someone, or expressing an opinion about what should happen.
   1. It's half past two. I think we had better go home...
      现在两点半了。我想我们最好还是回家吧。
   2. You'd better run if you're going to get your ticket...
      想买到票的话，你最好跑几步。
   3. He'd better not try to fool me.
      他最好不要愚弄我。
   4. In spoken English, people sometimes use better without 'had' or 'be' before it. It has the same meaning.
      （在英语口语中，有时在表达此意时会省略 better 前面的 had 或 be。）
   5. Better not say too much aloud.
      最好不要大声说太多话。
6. PRON 更大成就；更好行为；更好待遇
   If you say that you expect or deserve better, you mean that you expect or deserve a higher standard of achievement, behaviour, or treatment from people than they have shown you.
   1. We expect better of you in the future...
      我们希望将来你有更大的成就。
   2. Our long-suffering mining communities deserve better than this.
      我们长期受苦受难的采矿群体应该得到比这更好的待遇。
7. N-PLURAL 上司；上级
   Your betters are people who have a higher status or rank than you do.
   1. Sit down and be quiet in front of your elders and betters.
      在长辈和上级面前要老老实实地坐着。
8. VERB 超越；胜过；超出
   If someone betters a high achievement or standard, they achieve something higher.
   1. He recorded a time of 4 minutes 23, bettering the old record of 4-24...
      他用时4分23秒，刷新了4分24秒的原纪录。
   2. As an account of adolescence it could hardly be bettered.
      作为描写青春期的书，它已几臻完美。
9. VERB 提高；改善
   If you better your situation, you improve your social status or the quality of your life. If you better yourself, you improve your social status.
   1. He had dedicated his life to bettering the lot of the oppressed people of South Africa...
      他毕生致力于改变南非受压迫人民的命运。
   2. Our parents chose to come here with the hope of bettering themselves.
      我们的父母选择来到这里，希望能够改善自己的生活。
10. （用于构成以 good 和 well 开头的复合形容词的比较级，如 well-off 的比较级为 better-off）
    Better is used to form the comparative of compound adjectives beginning with 'good' and 'well.' For example, the comparative of 'well-off' is 'better-off.'
11. PHRASE （用于建议）最好，更好
    You can say that someone is better doing one thing than another, or it is better doing one thing than another, to advise someone about what they should do.
    1. You are better eating just a small snack than hurrying a main meal...
       你最好简单吃点快餐，不要着急着慌地吃正餐。
    2. Wouldn't it be better putting a time-limit on the task?...
       是不是给这项任务规定一个时限比较好？
    3. Subjects like this are better left alone.
       像这类题材最好别碰。
12. PHRASE 好转；变好
    If something changes for the better, it improves.
    1. Dreams of changing the world for the better.
       让世界变得更美好的梦想
13. PHRASE （嫉妒、好奇心、愤怒等感情）使不能自制
    If a feeling such as jealousy, curiosity, or anger gets the better of you, it becomes too strong for you to hide or control.
    1. She didn't allow her emotions to get the better of her.
       她没有感情用事。
14. PHRASE （在比赛、打斗或争论中）战胜，打败
    If you get the better of someone, you defeat them in a contest, fight, or argument.
    1. He is used to tough defenders, and he usually gets the better of them.
       他习惯了彪悍的后卫，通常都能战而胜之。
15. PHRASE （因阅历丰富）不至于…
    If someone knows better than to do something, they are old enough or experienced enough to know it is the wrong thing to do.
    1. She knew better than to argue with Adeline...
       她不至于和阿德琳发生争执。
    2. It's bad enough to have anyone joke about such a serious matter but a member of the police force should know better.
       拿这么严肃的事情开玩笑已经够糟的了，身为一名警察更不应该这样做。
16. PHRASE 比…更了解（或更渊博、更有经验）
    If you know better than someone, you have more information, knowledge, or experience than them.
    1. He thought he knew better than I did, though he was much less experienced...
       虽然他经验远没有我丰富，但他认为他比我懂行。
    2. My sister still claims she cheated on us at cards, but I know better.
       我妹妹仍然说她和我们玩牌的时候捣了鬼，其实我心知肚明。
17. PHRASE （用于建议）不如，最好
    If you say that someone would be better off doing something, you are advising them to do it or expressing the opinion that it would benefit them to do it.
    1. If you've got bags you're better off taking a taxi...
       你要是大包小包的，不如打的算了。
    2. Their stance seems to be that a baby or child is better off in its country of birth.
       他们似乎认为婴儿或者小孩还是呆在自己出生的国家为好。
18. PHRASE 胜过；超过
    If you go one better, you do something better than it has been done before or obtain something better than someone else has.
    1. Now General Electric have gone one better than nature and made a diamond purer than the best quality natural diamonds.
       现在通用电气公司已经制造出了巧夺天工的钻石，其纯度比最好的天然钻石还要高。
19. CONVENTION （表示赞成、表扬或鼓励）很好，这就对了
    You say 'That's better' in order to express your approval of what someone has said or done, or to praise or encourage them.
    1. 'I came to ask your advice — no, to ask for your help.' — 'That's better. And how can I help you?'
       “我来征求你们的意见——不对，请求你们帮助。”——“这还差不多。我们怎么帮助你？”
20. PHRASE 这样更好；那更好
    You can say 'so much the better' or 'all the better' to indicate that it is desirable that a particular thing is used, done, or available.
    1. Use strong white flour, and if you can get hold of durum wheat flour, then so much the better...
       使用高筋白面粉，如果你能弄到硬粒小麦面粉，那就更好了。
    2. If there's good skiing, breathtaking scenery and you don't need to catch a plane, all the better!
       如果有好的滑雪场、令人叹为观止的美景，又不用赶飞机，那就再好不过了。
21. PHRASE 越…越好
    You can use expressions like 'The bigger the better' or 'The sooner the better' to say that you would prefer it if something is big or happens soon.
    1. The Irish love a party, the bigger the better...
       爱尔兰人喜欢聚会，规模越大越好。
    2. The fewer things in the room the better.
       房间里的东西越少越好。
22. PHRASE 为了更好地…；以便更有效地…
    If you do something the better to do something else, you do the first thing in order to be able to do the second thing more effectively.
    1. She came on every ride herself, the better to instruct her eager pupils.
       每一个骑乘项目她都要亲自试一试，以便更好地指导她那些跃跃欲试的小学生。
23. PHRASE 重新考虑后决定不做
    If you intend to do something and then think better of it, you decide not to do it because you realize it would not be sensible.
    1. Alberg opened his mouth, as if to protest. But he thought better of it.
       阿尔伯格张了张嘴，似乎想要申辩，但想想又放弃了。
24. PHRASE 不论好坏；不管结果怎样
    If you say that something has happened or been done for better or worse, you mean that you are not sure whether the consequences will be good or bad, but they will have to be accepted because the action cannot be changed.
    1. I married you for better or worse, knowing all about these problems.
       这些问题我都知道，不管怎样我还是嫁给了你。
25. better the devil you know → see: devil

1. I like your interpretation better than the one I was taught
   你的解释比我以前学过的更让我喜欢。
2. I'd like nothing better than to join you girls
   我最喜欢和你们女孩子在一起了。
3. They liked it better when it rained.
   他们更喜欢雨天。
4. He is much better now, he's fine
   他现在好多了，身体状况不错。
5. The doctors were saying there wasn't much hope of me getting better.
   医生们说我好转的希望不大。
6. It's half past two. I think we had better go home
   现在两点半了。我想我们最好还是回家吧。
7. You'd better run if you're going to get your ticket
   想买到票的话，你最好跑几步。
8. He'd better not try to fool me.
   他最好不要愚弄我。
9. We expect better of you in the future
   我们希望将来你有更大的成就。
10. Our long-suffering mining communities deserve better than this.
    我们长期受苦受难的采矿群体应该得到比这更好的待遇。
11. Sit down and be quiet in front of your elders and betters.
    在长辈和上级面前要老老实实地坐着。
12. He recorded a time of 4 minutes 23, bettering the old record of 4-24
    他用时4分23秒，刷新了4分24秒的原纪录。
13. As an account of adolescence it could hardly be bettered.
    作为描写青春期的书，它已几臻完美。
14. He had dedicated his life to bettering the lot of the oppressed people of South Africa
    他毕生致力于改变南非受压迫人民的命运。
15. Our parents chose to come here with the hope of bettering themselves.
    我们的父母选择来到这里，希望能够改善自己的生活。
16. You are better eating just a small snack than hurrying a main meal
    你最好简单吃点快餐，不要着急着慌地吃正餐。
17. Wouldn't it be better putting a time-limit on the task?
    是不是给这项任务规定一个时限比较好？
18. Dreams of changing the world for the better.
    让世界变得更美好的梦想
19. She didn't allow her emotions to get the better of her.
    她没有感情用事。
20. He is used to tough defenders, and he usually gets the better of them.
    他习惯了彪悍的后卫，通常都能战而胜之。
21. She knew better than to argue with Adeline
    她不至于和阿德琳发生争执。
22. He thought he knew better than I did, though he was much less experienced
    虽然他经验远没有我丰富，但他认为他比我懂行。
23. If you've got bags you're better off taking a taxi
    你要是大包小包的，不如打的算了。
24. Now General Electric have gone one better than nature and made a diamond purer than the best quality natural diamonds.
    现在通用电气公司已经制造出了巧夺天工的钻石，其纯度比最好的天然钻石还要高。
25. 'I came to ask your advice — no, to ask for your help.' — 'That's better. And how can I help you?'
    “我来征求你们的意见——不对，请求你们帮助。”——“这还差不多。我们怎么帮助你？”
26. Use strong white flour, and if you can get hold of durum wheat flour, then so much the better
    使用高筋白面粉，如果你能弄到硬粒小麦面粉，那就更好了。
27. The Irish love a party, the bigger the better
    爱尔兰人喜欢聚会，规模越大越好。
28. She came on every ride herself, the better to instruct her eager pupils.
    每一个骑乘项目她都要亲自试一试，以便更好地指导她那些跃跃欲试的小学生。
29. Alberg opened his mouth, as if to protest. But he thought better of it.
    阿尔伯格张了张嘴，似乎想要申辩，但想想又放弃了。
30. I married you for better or worse, knowing all about these problems.
    这些问题我都知道，不管怎样我还是嫁给了你。

adj.

little/no better than

• 同…（几乎）一样；和…（几乎）一样坏
  almost or just the same as; almost or just as bad as
  1. The path was no better than a sheep track.
     那条小路简直就像是羊肠小道。

that's (much) better

• （安慰他人时说）很好，这就对了
  used to give support to sb who has been upset and is trying to become calmer
  1. Dry your eyes now. That's better.
     把眼泪擦干。这就对了。
• （称赞努力加以改进的人）很好
  used to praise sb who has made an effort to improve
  1. That's much better─you played the right notes this time.
     很好——你这次把音弹准了。

the bigger, smaller, faster, slower, etc. the better

• 越大（或小、快、慢等）越好
  used to say that sth should be as big, small, etc. as possible
  1. As far as the hard disk is concerned, the bigger the better.
     就硬盘而言，容量越大越好。

discretion is the better part of valour

• 谨慎即大勇；慎重为勇敢之本
  you should avoid danger and not take unnecessary risks

two heads are better than one

• 两人智慧胜一人
  used to say that two people can achieve more than one person working alone

the best/better part of sth

• （事物、时间的）绝大部分，多半
  most of sth, especially a period of time; more than half of sth
  1. The journey took her the better part of an hour.
     旅程花去了她半个多小时。

prevention is better than cure

• 预防优于补救；防患于未然是上策
  it is better to stop sth bad from happening rather than try to deal with the problems after it has happened

adv.

be better off

• 有较多钱；比较宽裕
  to have more money
  1. Families will be better off under the new law.
     新法律会使家庭经济宽裕一些。
  2. Her promotion means she's $100 a week better off.
     她的晋升意味着她每星期多挣100元。

be better off (doing sth)

• （在某情况下）更幸福，更满意
  used to say that sb is/would be happier or more satisfied if they were in a particular position or did a particular thing
  1. She's better off without him.
     没有他，她活得更幸福。
  2. The weather was so bad we'd have been better off staying at home.
     天气非常恶劣，我们还不如待在家里舒服。

had better/best (do sth)

• （告诉别人应该做的事）应该，最好
  used to tell sb what you think they should do
  1. You'd better go to the doctor about your cough.
     你最好去找医生看看你的咳嗽。
  2. We'd better leave now or we'll miss the bus.
     我们最好现在就走，不然就赶不上公共汽车了。
  3. You'd better not do that again.
     你最好别再这样做了。
  4. ‘I'll give you back the money tomorrow.’ ‘You'd better!’ (= as a threat)
     “我明天会还你钱。”“那样最好！”

n.

for better or (for) worse

• 不论好坏；不管是福是祸；不管怎样
  used to say that sth cannot be changed, whether the result is good or bad

get the better of sb/sth

• 挫败…；占上风
  to defeat sb/sth or gain an advantage
  1. No one can get the better of her in an argument.
     辩论起来没人能辩过她。
  2. She always gets the better of an argument.
     她在争辩中总是占上风。
  3. His curiosity got the better of him (= he didn't intend to ask questions, but he wanted to know so badly that he did) .
     好奇心使得他不禁要问。

so much the better/worse

• 那就更好了 / 更糟了
  used to say that sth is even better/worse
  1. We don't actually need it on Tuesday, but if it arrives by then, so much the better.
     实际上我们星期二并不需要它，但如果那时能到就更好。

a change for the better/worse

• 变好（或坏）
  a person, thing, situation, etc. that is better/worse than the previous or present one

your elders and betters

• 前辈；长者
  people who are older and wiser than you and whom you should respect

think (the) better of sb

• 对某人有较高的评价
  to have a higher opinion of sb
  1. She has behaved appallingly─I must say I thought better of her.
     她的行为太恶劣了，看来我过去是高看了她。

noun

1. something superior in quality or condition or effect
   1. a change for the better

2. the superior one of two alternatives
   1. chose the better of the two

3. a superior person having claim to precedence
   1. the common man has been kept in his place by his betters

4. someone who bets

   Synonym:    bettorwagererpunter

verb

1. get better
   1. The weather improved toward evening

   Synonym:    improveamelioratemeliorate

2. to make better
   1. The editor improved the manuscript with his changes

   Synonym:    improveamendamelioratemeliorate

3. surpass in excellence
   1. She bettered her own record
   2. break a record

   Synonym:    break

adj

1. (comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability
   1. You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din
   2. a better coat
   3. a better type of car
   4. a suit with a better fit
   5. a better chance of success
   6. produced a better mousetrap
   7. she's better in math than in history

2. (comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness
   1. her health is better now
   2. I feel better

3. more than half
   1. argued for the better part of an hour

adv

1. comparative of `well'
   1. She had never sung better
   2. a deed better left undone
   3. better suited to the job

2. from a position of superiority or authority
   1. father knows best
   2. I know better.

   Synonym:    best