passing /ˈpɑːsɪŋ/

• 1. 

  ADJ A passing fashion, activity, or feeling lasts for only a short period of time and is not worth taking very seriously. 一时的 [ADJ n]

  例：

  Hamnett does not believe environmental concern is a passing fad.

  哈姆内特相信对环境的关注不是一时的风尚。

• 2. 

  N-SING The passing of something such as a time or system is the fact of its coming to an end. 结束

  例：

  It was an historic day, yet its passing was not marked by the slightest excitement.

  这是有历史意义的一天，然而这一天的结束却没有被赋予丝毫的兴奋感。

• 3. 

  N-SING You can refer to someone's death as their passing, if you want to avoid using the word "death" because you think it might upset or offend people. 去世

  例：

  His passing will be mourned by many people.

  他的去世将为许多人所悼念。

• 4. 

  N-SING The passing of a period of time is the fact or process of its going by. (时光的) 流逝

  例：

  The passing of time brought a sense of emptiness.

  时光的流逝带来了空虚的感觉。

• 5. 

  ADJ A passing mention or reference is brief and is made while you are talking or writing about something else. 顺便的 [ADJ n]

  例：

  It was just a passing comment, he didn't expand.

  那只是顺便提到的评论，他没有展开。

• 6. 

  → see also pass, pass

• 7. 

  PHRASE If you mention something in passing, you mention it briefly while you are talking or writing about something else. 顺便

  例：

  The army is only mentioned in passing.

  军队只是顺便被谈及。