a small mistake, especially one that is caused by forgetting something or by being careless 小错；（尤指）记错，过失，疏忽 a lapse of concentration/memory 心不在焉；记错 A momentary lapse in the final set cost her the match. 她最后一盘一时不慎，输掉了整场比赛。
Extra ExamplesI had a momentary lapse when I couldn't remember his name. 我一时失忆，想不起他的名字了。 I keep suffering these mental lapses. 我总是记错。 a lapse in attention 注意力分散 sudden lapses of concentration 注意力的一时不集中 the investigation into security lapses at the laboratory 对实验室安全漏洞的调查 a serious lapse in judgment 严重的判断失误
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- minor
- major
- serious
- …
- have
- suffer
- lapse in
- lapse of
a period of time between two things that happen （两件事发生的）间隔时间 After a lapse of six months we met up again. 相隔六个月之后我们又相遇了。 He wrote to us after a considerable lapse of time. 隔了相当长的一段时间后他才给我们写信。
Extra ExamplesI'm sorry for the long lapse of time between updates. 我对更新间隔较长表示抱歉。 a time lapse of three months 3 个月的时间间隔
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- brief
- long
- time
- …
- lapse of
an example or period of bad behaviour from somebody who normally behaves well 行为失检；（平时表现不错的人一时的）失足 It was an odd lapse for one who is normally so polite. 对一个平时如此礼貌的人来说，这种闪失真是异常。 allegations of ethical lapses 对道德过失的指责
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin lapsus, from labi ‘to glide, slip, or fall’; the verb reinforced by Latin lapsare ‘to slip or stumble’.