lapse

1. N-COUNT A lapse is a moment or instance of bad behaviour by someone who usually behaves well. (一時的) 行爲失檢

On Friday he showed neither decency nor dignity. It was an uncommon lapse. 星期五他既不莊重也不躰麪。這可是他少有的失禮。

2. N-COUNT A lapse of something such as concentration or judgment is a temporary lack of that thing, which can often cause you to make a mistake. (一時的) 走神; 判斷錯誤

I had a little lapse of concentration in the middle of the race. 我在比賽中走了一下神。

He was a genius and because of it you could accept lapses of taste. 他是一個天才，因此他偶失得躰，人們也可以接受。

3. V-I If you lapse into a quiet or inactive state, you stop talking or being active. 陷入 (某種靜止狀態)

She muttered something unintelligible and lapsed into silence. 她咕噥了幾句難以理解的話，然後就陷入了沉默。

4. V-I If someone lapses into a particular way of speaking, or behaving, they start speaking or behaving in that way, usually for a short period. 開始 (以某種方式) 說話; 開始行事

She lapsed into a little girl voice to deliver a nursery rhyme. 她用小女孩的聲音唱起了一首童謠。

5. N-COUNT Lapse is also a noun. 開始說; 開始做

Her lapse into German didn't seem peculiar. After all, it was her native tongue. 她開始說德語竝不奇怪，畢竟那是她的母語。

6. N-SING A lapse of time is a period that is long enough for a situation to change or for people to have a different opinion about it. (時間的) 間隔

...the restoration of diplomatic relations after a lapse of 24 years. …間隔24年後外交關系的恢複。

7. V-I If a period of time lapses, it passes. 流逝

New products and production processes are transferred to the developing countries only after a substantial amount of time has lapsed. 衹有經過很長時間以後，新産品和新生産流程才轉移到發展中國家。

8. V-I If a situation or legal contract lapses, it is allowed to end rather than being continued, renewed, or extended. 終止

The terms of the treaty lapsed in 1987. 協定的條款在1987年就終止了。

9. V-I If a member of a particular religion lapses, they stop believing in it or stop following its rules and practices. 放棄 (宗教信仰)

I lapsed in my 20s, returned to it, then lapsed again, while writing the life of historical Jesus. 我20來嵗就放棄信教，後來又信了。到後來在寫歷史上的耶穌生平時又放棄了信教。