engage
verb uk/ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/ us/ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/
(EMPLOY)
[ T ] mainly UK formal雇用;聘用
to employ someone
[ + to infinitive ] I have engaged a secretary to deal with all my paperwork. 我雇用了一名秘书来处理我全部的文书工作。
We're engaging the services of a professional administrator. 我们将聘用专业管理人员为我们服务。
- More examples
- We've recently engaged a cleaner.
- She has been known to engage the services of a professional shopper.
- For these services he would otherwise have to engage a psychotherapist.
- A professional coach was immediately engaged.
- 240 stewards were engaged to ensure that the game went smoothly.
(INTEREST)
C1 [ T ] formal吸引住，使感兴趣
to interest someone in something and keep them thinking about it
The debate about food safety has engaged the whole nation. 关于食品安全的争论引起了全国关注。
If a book doesn't engage my interest in the first few pages, I don't usually continue reading it. 如果一本书的前几页不能引起我的兴趣，通常我就不再往下读了。
- More examples
- The subject doesn't engage me.
- For some reason the film failed to engage my interest.
- We're always looking out for new subjects that will engage our readers.
- The debate fails to engage him intellectually.
- He was examining his fingernails, one of which seemed to engage his attention.
(FIT TOGETHER)
[ I or T ]（使）（机器）啮合，接合，衔接
to make one part of a machine fit into and move together with another part of a machine
When the large gear wheel engages (with the smaller one), the mill stone will start to go round. 当大齿轮（与小齿轮）啮合时，石磨就开始转动。
(BEGIN FIGHTING)
[ I or T ] military specialized进攻;（与…）交战，（与…）开战
to attack or begin to fight someone
Enemy planes engaged the troops as they advanced into the mountains. 部队进山的时候，敌机开始对他们发起攻击。
(TEACH)
[ T ] Indian English教（儿童）;使忙于，使参加
to teach someone, especially a class of children, or to keep someone busy
Phrasal verb
engage in somethingC2 参加；参与
to take part in something
The two governments have agreed to engage in a comprehensive dialogue to resolve the problem. 两国政府已经同意开展全面对话以解决该问题。
to start a conversation with someone:
Once Mrs Kirkpatrick engages you in conversation, you're stuck with her for half an hour. 一旦柯克帕特里克夫人跟你聊起来，不说上半个小时她是不会放过你的。