dent
- n. 凹痕
- v. 使凹陷
- v. 削弱
- Definition
- n. a hollow mark made by pressure or a blow
- v. to make a hollow mark in something
- v. to weaken it
- Example
- He accidentally put a small dent in the car door.
- 他不小心把车门撞出了一个小凹痕。
Synonyms & Differences 近义词辨析
Compared meaning: a small mark of damage on a surface (noun).
比较义项：表面上因外力造成的小损伤痕迹（名词）。
- nick
A nick is a small cut or notch, usually made by a sharp edge or blade slipping; it breaks the surface or shaves off a tiny bit, rather than pushing it inward.
nick（划痕）通常指锐器或刀刃滑过表面留下的浅痕或缺口，会划破表面或削去一点点材料，而不是把表面压凹。
The razor left a small nick on his chin while he was shaving.
剃须刀在他刮胡子时在下巴上留下了一个小划痕。
- dent 本词
A dent is a hollow pushed into a surface by pressure or an impact, with no material cut away; it is common on hard, rigid surfaces like metal or car panels.
dent（凹痕）指表面受到挤压或撞击后形成的凹陷，没有材料被削去，常见于金属、车身等坚硬平面上。
A falling branch left a dent in the roof of her car.
一根掉落的树枝在她的车顶上留下了一个凹痕。
Nick and dent both name small damage on a surface, but they form differently. A nick is a cut made by something sharp, like a slipping blade, removing a tiny bit of surface. A dent is a hollow pushed inward by pressure, without cutting material.
nick 和 dent 都指物体表面上的小瑕疵，但成因和形状不同：nick 是锐器划出的浅痕或缺口，可能削去一点点材料；dent 则是受压或撞击后形成的凹陷，材料没有被削去，只是被压进去了。这里不比较 nick 作动词表示“划伤”或英式俚语中“偷”的用法，也不比较 dent 作动词“使凹陷”或比喻“（信心、名誉等）受挫”的用法。