English > English |
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at once |
1. adv. (obsolete) In one group; together. |
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2. adv. At the same time; simultaneously. |
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Can you pat your head and rub your belly at once?He tried to eat four cookies at once. |
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3. adv. Immediately; now; right away. |
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Tell the doctor to come at once. She is having a baby. |
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Analysis |
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at |
1. prep. In, near, or in the general vicinity of a particular place. |
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Caesar was at Rome; at the corner of Fourth Street and Vine; at Jim’s house |
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2. prep. (indicating time) (Indicating occurrence in an instant of time or a period of time relatively short in context or from the speaker's perspective.) |
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at six o’clock; at closing time; at night. |
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3. prep. In the direction of (often in an unfocused or uncaring manner). |
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once |
1. adv. (frequency) One and only one time. |
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I have only once eaten pizza. |
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2. adv. (temporal location) Formerly; during some period in the past. |
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He was once the most handsome man around. I once had a bicycle just like that one. |
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Wang notes that flowers have rooted and grow in the area once covered with ice. |
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