late

adj

• ① 1迟的,晚的,迟到的2比平常晚的;入夜以后的;晚于时令的(←→early)
  • He apologized for his late arrival.他为迟到而道歉。
  • a late arrival迟到者
  • He was very late for school this morning.今天早上他上学迟到了好久。
  • She was ten minutes late for her appointment.她约会迟到十分钟。
  • It is never too late to mend.【谚】知过能改,善莫大焉;亡羊补牢,犹未晚也。
  • It is never too late to learn.【谚】活到老,学到老。
  • a late breakfast [lunch]迟进的早餐[午餐]
  • a late show(电视的)深夜节目,午夜场
  • a late marriage晚婚
  • It's getting late.时候不早了。
  • She is always late in coming.她总是姗姗来迟。
  • Don't be late (in) getting home.不要晚回家(★【in+V-ing】句型中的in,在【口】中常省略)。
  • He is late of getting up in the morning.他早晨起得迟。
  • We were late with lunch today.我们今天午饭吃晚了。

• ② 将近终了的,后期的,末期的(←→early)
  • late spring晚春,暮春
  • the late nineteenth century十九世纪末期
  • the late period of one's life晚年,暮年
  • She's in her late fifties.她的年龄在55至60岁之间。
  • He'll go abroad in late May.他将在五月下旬出国。

• ③[无比较级]最近的,近来的(=recent)
  • in late years近年来

• ④[无比较级]1以前的(=former)2[the late, one's late]最近逝世的,故…
  • the late chairman前任主席(★可能与b)混淆时应避免使用
  • his late wife他的亡妻
  • the late Mr. Smith故史密斯先生