paralyze

/'pærəlaiz/ Cách viết khác : (paralyze) /'pærəlaiz/

Thân thiện

The poison paralyzed the frog's legs.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cause paralysis; to make a person or body part unable to move or function: This is the primary medical meaning, referring to the loss of muscle function, often due to nerve damage.
   • To render powerless, inactive, or unable to function; to bring to a complete stop: This is the figurative meaning, describing a state of complete inaction or helplessness, often caused by shock, fear, or overwhelming systems.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Medical):

  • The stroke paralyzed his left side.
  • The venom from the snake bite can paralyze its prey.

• Verb (Figurative):

  • The shocking news paralyzed her, and she couldn't speak.
  • A sudden snowstorm paralyzed the city's transportation network.

Advanced Usage

• "to be paralyzed with/by (fear, terror, shock, etc.)": To be made completely unable to act or think because of a strong emotion.
  • He was paralyzed with fear when he saw the spider.
  • The team was paralyzed by indecision.

Variants and Related Words

• Paralysis (n): The state of being paralyzed, either physically or figuratively.

  • The accident resulted in the paralysis of his legs.
  • The political scandal caused a paralysis in the government.

• Paralytic (adj/n): (Adjective) Relating to or affected with paralysis. (Noun, dated) A person affected by paralysis.

  • He suffered paralytic symptoms.

• Paralyzed (adj): The adjective form describing the state.

  • A paralyzed limb.
  • A paralyzed economy.

Synonyms

• Immobilize: To prevent something or someone from moving.
• Disable: To deprive of capability or effectiveness.
• Debilitate: To make weak or feeble.
• Stun: To shock or astonish into temporary incapacity.
• Cripple: To disable or damage severely; often used figuratively.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(Note: "Paralyze" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically conveyed directly or through prepositional phrases like "paralyze with.")

Related Idioms

• To paralyze something in its tracks: To stop something completely and suddenly.
  • The legal challenge paralyzed the construction project in its tracks.

Học thuật

Verb

1. cause to be paralyzed and immobile
   • The poison paralyzed him
   • Fear paralyzed her
2. make powerless and unable to function
   • The bureaucracy paralyzes the entire operation

Từ đồng nghĩa

• paralyse