meagre
gb/mˈiɡɹi/ us/mˈiɡɹi/
B2
Inglese
~ 9100
csekély, szűkös, szegényes, gyér, csontsovány
B2
1
Schema d'uso:
a meagre [amount of something]
She tried to support three children on her meagre salary.
Három gyereket próbált eltartani a csekély fizetéséből.
After rent and bills, his meagre savings were quickly used up.
Albérlet és számlák után a csekély megtakarítása gyorsan elfogyott.
The party won by a meagre majority of just two seats.
Many pensioners are forced to live on meagre incomes.
Despite the meagre budget, the team still finished the project.
Esempi per chi studia
He lives on a meagre income and cannot save money.
Csekély jövedelemből él, és nem tud félretenni.
They won by a meagre majority in the election.
Csekély többséggel nyerték meg a választást.
The workers complained about their meagre pay.
Our school has only a meagre budget for new books.
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes confuse "meagre" with "minor" or "simple". "Meagre" always refers to something being too small in amount, especially money, resources, or numbers, not to something being easy or unimportant.
Significato
very small and not enough
Collocazioni
meagre salary
|meagre income
|meagre savings
|meagre majority
|meagre budget
|meagre benefits
Sinonimi
scant (Slightly more formal and less common; often used in written English.)
|
insufficient (More formal and technical; stresses not meeting a required level.)
|
paltry (Often suggests that the amount is not only small but also disappointing or even insulting.)
Contrari
ample (Emphasises that there is more than enough of something.)
|
generous (Focuses on a large or kind amount, especially of money or help.)
|
substantial (Highlights that the amount is large and significant.)
Temi
money
|work
|politics
|statistics
|core_vocabulary
Definizione
Too small in amount; not enough for what is needed or expected.
Very small in amount and not enough to be satisfactory or adequate.
C1
2
Schema d'uso:
a meagre [meal/choice/result/offer]
We had only a meagre meal of bread and soup.
Csak egy szegényes étkezést kaptunk: kenyeret és levest.
The evidence against him was meagre and unconvincing.
Az ellene szóló bizonyítékok gyérek és nem meggyőzőek voltak.
The report offers a meagre analysis of the real problems.
Visitors complained about the museum’s meagre collection.
Their support for the project was meagre at best.
Esempi per chi studia
They served a meagre meal at the camp.
Szegényes ételt szolgáltak fel a táborban.
The teacher had only meagre materials for the class.
A tanárnak csak szegényes anyagai voltak az órához.
The movie got a meagre response from the audience.
Scientists had meagre data, so they could not be sure.
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes use "meagre" for people’s feelings, but it is normally used for things like meals, evidence, support, results, or choices, not for emotions.
Significato
lacking quantity or quality
Collocazioni
meagre meal
|meagre portion
|meagre evidence
|meagre resources
|meagre offering
|meagre selection
Sinonimi
poor (Very common and general; can refer to quality, performance, or conditions.)
|
sparse (Suggests things are spread thinly or present in very small numbers.)
|
limited (Neutral and common; stresses that there is not much choice, variety, or amount.)
Contrari
plentiful (Suggests a large and satisfying amount, often used for food or resources.)
|
rich (Emphasises fullness or high quality, especially in food, experiences, or language.)
|
abundant (More formal; highlights a very large quantity that is more than enough.)
Temi
food
|culture
|education
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definizione
Small and poor in quality or amount, so that it does not feel rich, full, or satisfying.
Poor and unsatisfying because it has very little quantity, variety, or quality.
C1
LITERARY
3
csontsovány
B2
Schema d'uso:
a meagre [body/figure/frame]
A meagre old man opened the door and stared at us in silence.
Egy csontsovány öregember nyitott ajtót, és némán bámult ránk.
The stray dog was meagre and shaking from the cold.
A kóbor kutya csontsovány volt, és reszketett a hidegtől.
Under his coat, his body felt shockingly meagre and fragile.
The refugees arrived with meagre faces and hollow eyes.
Esempi per chi studia
A meagre boy stood in the doorway, looking hungry.
Egy csontsovány fiú állt az ajtóban, éhesnek látszott.
They found a meagre dog in the street and gave it food.
Találtak az utcán egy csontsovány kutyát, és adtak neki enni.
His body was meagre after many weeks without enough food.
The writer described a meagre woman with tired eyes.
Errore comune:
Learners may try to use "meagre" for any kind of thin person. It is usually used in written or literary descriptions and often suggests hunger, illness, or hardship, not simply being slim or fit.
Significato
very thin and underfed-looking
Collocazioni
meagre frame
|meagre body
|meagre figure
|meagre limbs
Sinonimi
gaunt (Suggests extreme thinness, often from hunger, illness, or worry.)
|
scrawny (Informal and slightly negative; suggests unattractively thin.)
|
emaciated (Very formal/medical; implies serious undernourishment or illness.)
Contrari
well-fed (Suggests a body that clearly has enough food and flesh.)
|
stout (Describes someone somewhat fat or heavily built.)
|
plump (Suggests pleasantly slightly fat or rounded, often more positive.)
Temi
appearance
|health
|literature
|body
Definizione
Very thin, with little flesh on the body, so that the person or animal looks weak or not well fed.
(Of a person or animal) very thin and lacking flesh, often looking weak or undernourished.
Grammatica
Forma base
meagre
IPA
GB/mˈiɡɹi/
US/mˈiɡɹi/
Sillabe e accento
mea - gre (2 sillabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (mea)
Forme flesse
Adjective
- Base: meagre
Famiglia di parole
Espressioni
a meagre living
1/ə mˈiɡɹi lˈɪvɪŋ/
fixed phrase
barely enough income to live
Earning just enough money to stay alive, with almost nothing extra.
Esempi
- She makes a meagre living selling vegetables at the market.
- Many artists survive on a meagre living while they work on their music.
a meagre majority
1/ə mˈiɡɹi məd͡ʒˈɔɹəti/
fixed phrase
very small voting majority
Winning by only a few votes or seats, not by a large number.
Esempi
- The government was elected with a meagre majority and could easily lose power.
- The proposal passed by a meagre majority of three votes.
a meagre meal
1/ə mˈiɡɹi mˈil/
fixed phrase
small and unsatisfying meal
A small meal that does not feel like enough food.
Esempi
- After the long hike, the campers were disappointed by the meagre meal.
- During the war, many families had to live on meagre meals of bread and soup.
a meagre salary
1/ə mˈiɡɹi sˈælɚi/
fixed phrase
very low and unsatisfactory pay
A salary that is very low and does not feel like enough money.
Esempi
- He supports his family on a meagre salary from the factory.
- Teachers often complain about having to live on meagre salaries.
in meagre amounts
1/ˈɪn mˈiɡɹi əmˈaʊnts/
fixed phrase
only in very small quantities
Only in very small, not enough amounts.
Esempi
- Food was available only in meagre amounts during the famine.
- The medicine is given in meagre amounts to avoid side effects.