lifespan
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The length of time for which a person, animal, or thing lives or functions: The period from birth or beginning to death or termination. 2. The duration of existence or usefulness of something.
Usage
- "Lifespan" is a countable noun.
- It is commonly used to discuss biology, product durability, technology, and abstract concepts.
- It is often modified by adjectives like , , , , , or .
Examples
- The lifespan of a mayfly is only 24 hours.
- Researchers are studying ways to extend the human lifespan.
- The average lifespan of this model of refrigerator is about 15 years.
- Political movements often have a short lifespan.
Advanced Usage
- "Within/in the lifespan of": During the lifetime or functional period of something/someone.
- We have seen incredible technological change within the lifespan of my grandmother.
- "Lifespan approach/development" (Psychology): A methodological perspective that considers development across the entire course of life.
- The study uses a lifespan approach to understand cognitive changes from infancy to old age.
Variants and Related Words
- Life (noun): The period between birth and death; the existence of an individual. (Note: "Life" is broader and can also mean the state of being alive, a biography, or vitality, while "lifespan" specifically refers to the measurable duration.)
- Longevity (noun): Long life or long duration. Often implies living a particularly long time.
- Duration (noun): The length of time that something continues. A more general term.
- Life expectancy (noun phrase): The statistically average number of years a person or organism is expected to live based on demographic factors.
Synonyms
- Lifetime
- Duration of life
- Life cycle (when referring to the series of stages)
- Existence
Antonyms
- (Conceptually) Death, end, termination.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- "Outlive its lifespan": To continue to exist or function beyond its expected or useful period.
- That old policy has long outlived its lifespan and needs to be replaced.
- "Lifespan of a product": A common business and engineering term for how long a product is designed or expected to last.
- Engineers are working to increase the lifespan of the product while reducing its cost.
Noun
- the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)
- the battery had a short life
- he lived a long and happy life