• n. 沟壑，山涧；峡谷

来自古法语 ravine,急流，洪水，来自拉丁语 rapina,抢劫，掠夺，来自 rapere,抓走，夺走，词 源同 rape,rapid.比喻用法。

ravine

ravine: [15] Ravine and the now seldom encountered rapine ‘plunder’ [15] are essentially the same word. Both come ultimately from Latin rapīna ‘plunder’, a derivative of rapere ‘seize by force’ (from which English gets rape, rapid, rapture, ravenous, etc). This passed directly into English via Old French as rapine, but a variant Old French form also developed, ravine, whose meaning appears to have been influenced by Latin rapidus ‘rapid’.

It denoted ‘violent rush, impetus’ – which is how it was used in its brief and very spasmodic career in Middle English. It did not become firmly established as an English word until the 19th century, when it was reborrowed from French in the sense ‘gorge’ – originally as carved out by a ‘violent rush’ or torrent of water.
=> rape, rapine, rapture

ravine (n.)

1760, "deep gorge," from French ravin "a gully" (1680s, from Old French raviner "to pillage, sweep down, cascade"), and from French ravine "violent rush of water, gully worn by a torrent," from Old French ravine "violent rush of water, waterfall; avalanche; robbery, rapine," both ultimately from Latin rapina "act of robbery, plundering" (see rapine); sense influenced by Latin rapidus "rapid." Middle English ravine meant "booty, plunder, robbery" from c. 1350-1500. Compare ravening.

1. The bus is said to have over-turned and fallen into a ravine.

据说巴士发生翻车，跌进了峡谷。

来自柯林斯例句

2. The straight flow of the brook formed a ravine.

不间断的溪水形成了一个峡谷.

来自《简明英汉词典》

3. The river had worn a ravine between the hills.

那条河在两山之间已造成一个深谷.

来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4. Heave the rocks into the ravine.

把这些石头扔进深谷里.

来自《简明英汉词典》

5. The soldiers shot down into the ravine.

士兵们向深谷里射击.

来自《简明英汉词典》