method

meth‧od S1 W1 AC / meθəd / 名词

1 [可数名词] a planned way of doing something, especially one that a lot of people know about and use :

traditional teaching methods

I think we should try again using a different method.

method of/for (doing) something

Today’s methods of birth control make it possible for a couple to choose whether or not to have a child.

effective methods for the storage and retrieval of information

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In everyday English, people usually say a way of doing something rather than a method of doing something:

a secure way of storing information

2 [不可数名词] formal a well-organized and well-planned way of doing something :

There’s no method in the way they do their accounts.

3 there’s method in/to sb’s madness used to say that even though someone seems to be behaving strangely, there is a sensible reason for what they are doing

COLLOCATIONS

动词

use a method ( also employ a method formal ) Which payment method do you use when travelling?

adopt a method (= start using a new method ) Quite a few companies adopted Japanese business methods.

devise a method (= invent a method ) Scientists have devised a method of recycling contaminated oil.

outline a method (= describe a method in a few words ) This leaflet outlines the methods that are available to you.

形容词

effective/efficient (= giving the result you want ) Some methods are more effective than others.

reliable (= likely to give the result you want ) We need a more reliable method of predicting earthquakes.

suitable No single method is suitable for all occasions.

a teaching method Neill had considerable influence over modern teaching methods.

a farming method Farming methods have changed a lot over the last 100 years.

the usual method The usual method of investing in a company is by buying shares in it.

the traditional method (= the usual method ) Farmers are being encouraged to return to more traditional methods of farming.

modern methods (= methods used now, but not in the past ) Modern methods of solving crime depend a lot on forensic evidence.

the scientific method (= the usual way of finding out information in science, which involves testing ideas in experiments ) It is sometimes difficult to apply the scientific method to subjects such as sociology or psychology.

an alternative method (= a method that is different than the usual one ) Try to use alternative methods of transport, such as cycling or taking the bus.

THESAURUS

method a way of doing something, especially one that is well known and often used : You can choose whichever method of payment you prefer. | an environmentally friendly method for treating household waste

way a set of actions that you use in order to do something. Way is more informal than method and is used more often in everyday English : What’s the best way to remove wine stains? | a new way of treating the disease | There are lots of ways of cooking mushrooms.

means something that you use to do something or achieve something : Their main means of transport is their car. | E-mail is often the most convenient means of communication . | He looked around for a means of escape . | Education and training are the most efficient means of improving the nation’s economy.

approach a way of dealing with a particular problem or situation, especially a way that has been carefully thought about or planned : Today’s approach to raising children is very different from 40 years ago. | I think we need to try a different approach.

technique a particular way of doing something, for which you need a skill that has to be learned and practised : tips on how to improve your exam technique | More patients are surviving thanks to improved surgical techniques.

tactics methods that you use in order to achieve what you want, especially in a game or competition : There were complaints about police tactics used to clear demonstrators. | The team was discussing tactics for the game.

strategy a set of carefully planned methods for achieving something that is difficult and may take a long time : our sales strategy | a strategy to reduce the level of teenage smoking

mode formal a particular way of doing something : For him, painting is just another mode of expression . | You can choose between several different modes of operation . | the most efficient mode of transportation | Withdrawing a child from class is still the preferred mode of providing extra help to that child.