that cannot be clearly seen, heard or smelt （光、声、味）微弱的，不清楚的 a faint glow/glimmer/light 微弱的光亮／闪光／光 a faint smell of perfume 淡淡的香水味 We saw the faint outline of the mountain through the mist. 我们透过薄雾看见了朦胧的山峦轮廓。 We could hear their voices growing fainter as they walked down the road. 他们沿路走远时我们听见他们的说话声逐渐模糊。 His breathing became faint. 他的呼吸变得微弱了。
Extra ExamplesI can't make out the number—it's very faint. 我看不清楚这个数字 － 太模糊了。 The whispers grew fainter and fainter, then stopped altogether. 耳语声越来越模糊，最后完全停了下来。 The faint glow of a match shone through the doorway. 一根火柴发出微弱的光，穿过门口。 There was a faint glimmer of light from her window. 她的窗口闪烁着微弱的灯光。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- sound
- become
- …
- extremely
- very
- rather
- …
very small; possible but unlikely 微小的；可能性不大的 There is still a faint hope that she may be cured. 她的病还有一点点希望可以治愈。 They don't have the faintest chance of winning. 他们毫无获胜的可能。
not enthusiastic 不热情的；不积极的 a faint show of resistance 软弱无力装模作样的抵抗 a faint smile 淡淡一笑
- [not before noun]
feeling weak and tired and likely to become unconscious 昏眩；快要昏厥 Extra ExamplesTopics Illnessc1What he saw made him feel faint with fear. 他所看到的使他感到恐惧而昏厥。 I was faint with hunger. 我饿晕了。 I was beginning to feel a little faint. 我开始觉得有点儿晕了。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- feel
- look
- …
- extremely
- very
- almost
- …
- with
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘feigned’, also ‘feeble, cowardly’, surviving in faint-hearted): from Old French faint, past participle of faindre, from Latin fingere ‘mould, contrive’. Compare with feint.
Idioms
damn somebody/something with faint praise
to praise somebody/something only a little, in order to show that you do not really like them/it 用冷漠的赞扬贬低；寓贬于褒；名褒实贬
not have the faintest (idea)