purpose

noun

1. 意图；目的；用途；目标
   the intention, aim or function of sth; the thing that sth is supposed to achieve
   1. Our campaign's main purpose is to raise money.
      我们这次活动的主要目的就是募款。
   2. The purpose of the book is to provide a complete guide to the university.
      本书旨在全面介绍这所大学。
   3. A meeting was called for the purpose of appointing a new treasurer.
      为任命新司库而召开了一次会议。
   4. The experiments serve no useful purpose (= are not useful) .
      这些实验毫无用处。
   5. The building is used for religious purposes.
      这座建筑是用于宗教活动的。
2. 情势的需要
   what is needed in a particular situation
   1. These gifts count as income for tax purposes.
      这些赠与应属于纳税的收入。
   2. For the purposes of this study, the three groups have been combined.
      为了这项研究工作，三个小组业已合并。
3. 重要意义；有价值的意义
   meaning that is important and valuable to you
   1. Volunteer work gives her life (a sense of) purpose .
      做志愿工作使她的生活有了意义。
4. 意志；毅力；决心
   the ability to plan sth and work successfully to achieve it
   1. He has enormous confidence and strength of purpose .
      他信心十足，意志坚强。

1. N-COUNT 意义；用途
   The purpose of something is the reason for which it is made or done.
   1. The purpose of the occasion was to raise money for medical supplies...
      那次活动是为筹集资金购买医药物资。
   2. Various insurance schemes already exist for this purpose.
      已经有各种保险计划可以实现这一目的。
   3. ...the use of nuclear energy for military purposes...
      核能在军事上的运用
   4. He was asked about casualties, but said it would serve no purpose to count bodies...
      有人问他伤亡情况，但他说清点尸体是没有意义的。
   5. Most of them are destroyed because they've served their purpose.
      它们中大多数在完成使命后被销毁。
2. N-COUNT 目标；目的
   Your purpose is the thing that you want to achieve.
   1. They might well be prepared to do you harm in order to achieve their purpose...
      为达成自己的目的，他们说不定已经做好了伤害你的准备。
   2. His purpose was to make a profit by improving the company's performance.
      他的目标是通过提高公司的业绩来实现盈利。
3. N-UNCOUNT 意志；毅力；决心
   Purpose is the feeling of having a definite aim and of being determined to achieve it.
   1. The teachers are enthusiastic and have a sense of purpose.
      教师们很热情并且很有决心。
4. See also: cross-purposes
5. PHRASE 实际上
   You use for all practical purposes or to all intents and purposes to suggest that a situation is not exactly as you describe it, but the effect is the same as if it were.
   1. For all practical purposes the treaty has already ceased to exist...
      实际上协议已经不复存在。
   2. To all intents and purposes the case was closed.
      实际上该案已经了结了。
6. PHRASE 特意地；故意地；有意地
   If you do something on purpose, you do it intentionally.
   1. Was it an accident or did David do it on purpose?
      是意外还是戴维故意所为？

1. Senator Lugar is skeptical that Congress will appropriate more funding for this purpose.
   参议员卢格怀疑国会是否会拨出更多资金用于此目的。
2. This gun is designed for one purpose — it's basically to kill people
   这种枪只有一个用途——就是用来杀人。
3. Their purpose is to build a fair society and a strong economy
   他们的目的是要建立一个公平的社会和一个强大的经济体。
4. I had obtained my first camera for the express purpose of taking railway photographs.
   我已经买了我的第一架照相机，专门用来拍摄铁路。
5. I had no inkling of his real purpose until much later
   直到后来很久我才对他的真实目的略知一二。
6. The purpose of intelligence is to provide information on how the enemy can be beaten
   谍报的目的是提供如何打败敌人的信息。
7. The purpose of the journey is to mobilise public opinion on the controversial issue
   此行的目的就是动员公众对这个备受争议的问题发表意见。
8. The ostensible purpose of these meetings was to gather information on financial strategies.
   这些会议声称旨在收集有关金融策略的信息。
9. The purpose of the occasion was to raise money for medical supplies
   那次活动是为筹集资金购买医药物资。
10. Various insurance schemes already exist for this purpose.
    已经有各种保险计划可以实现这一目的。
11. He was asked about casualties, but said it would serve no purpose to count bodies
    有人问他伤亡情况，但他说清点尸体是没有意义的。
12. Most of them are destroyed because they've served their purpose.
    它们中大多数在完成使命后被销毁。
13. They might well be prepared to do you harm in order to achieve their purpose
    为达成自己的目的，他们说不定已经做好了伤害你的准备。
14. His purpose was to make a profit by improving the company's performance.
    他的目标是通过提高公司的业绩来实现盈利。
15. The teachers are enthusiastic and have a sense of purpose.
    教师们很热情并且很有决心。
16. For all practical purposes the treaty has already ceased to exist
    实际上协议已经不复存在。
17. To all intents and purposes the case was closed.
    实际上该案已经了结了。
18. Was it an accident or did David do it on purpose?
    是意外还是戴维故意所为？
19. Its real purpose is the launching and retrieval of small aeroplanes in flight.
    它真正的用途是发射和收回飞行中的小型飞机。
20. Her purpose was to scrutinize his features to see if he was an honest man
    她的目的是通过仔细观察他的相貌以判断他是否诚实。
21. I really do not think that an inquiry would serve any useful purpose
    我真的认为调查没有任何实际意义。
22. I find the best tool for the purpose is a pair of shears.
    我发现做这件事最得力的工具是一把大剪刀。
23. His real purpose is to trick his way into your home to see what he can steal.
    他的真实目的就是设局欺骗你以进入你的家里，看看他可以偷走什么。
24. This ware is suitable for decorative purpose but unsuitable for utility.
    这种器皿中看不中用。
25. We must adhere to the principle of making study serve the practical purpose.
    我们必须坚持学以致用的原则。
26. The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
    为了达到目的，魔鬼也会援引圣经。
27. He hinted about the purpose of his visit.
    他暗示了他来访的意图。
28. Let's set aside an hour a day for review purpose.
    我们每天留出一小时用于复习吧！
29. They decided to set up a fund for this purpose.
    他们决定为此专立一项基金。
30. Let me explain the purpose of today's meeting.
    我来讲一下今天开会的目的。

  purpose aim goal object objective target【导航词义：目的，目标】

  purpose n. 目的

〔辨析〕普通用词，指经过考虑而要做某事的意图，通常用单数。

  aim n. 目标，目的

〔辨析〕强调希望做成某事的具体意图，多指短期目标。

  goal n. 目标，目的

〔辨析〕多指想要通过一段时间的努力而在未来实现某事的意图。

  object n. 目的，目标

〔辨析〕指某一计划、行为或活动的目的，通常用单数。

  objective n. 目的，目标

〔辨析〕尤用于商业或政治方面，侧重指人所想要实现的目标。

  target n. 目标

〔辨析〕多用于数量、时间、财务等方面，表示想要达到的具体目标。

n.

on purpose

• 故意；有意地
  not by accident; deliberately
  1. He did it on purpose, knowing it would annoy her.
     他明知会激怒她，却故意那么做。

to little/no purpose

• 作用不大；徒劳
  with little/no useful effect or result

to all intents and purposes

• 几乎完全；差不多等于
  in the effects that sth has, if not in reality; almost completely
  1. By 1981 the docks had, to all intents and purposes, closed.
     到1981年，这些码头几乎等于关闭了。
  2. The two items are, to all intents and purposes, identical.
     这两件物品几乎完全一样。

for (all) practical purposes

• 事实上；其实
  used when you are stating what the reality of a situation is
  1. There's still another ten minutes of the game to go, but for practical purposes it's already over.
     比赛虽然还有十分钟，但实际上等于已经结束了。

noun

1. the quality of being determined to do or achieve something
   1. his determination showed in his every movement
   2. he is a man of purpose

   Synonym:    determination

2. what something is used for
   1. the function of an auger is to bore holes
   2. ballet is beautiful but what use is it?

   Synonym:    functionroleuse

3. an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
   1. his intent was to provide a new translation
   2. good intentions are not enough
   3. it was created with the conscious aim of answering immediate needs
   4. he made no secret of his designs

   Synonym:    intentintentionaimdesign

verb

1. reach a decision
   1. he resolved never to drink again

   Synonym:    resolve

2. propose or intend
   1. I aim to arrive at noon

   Synonym:    aimpurportpropose