柯林斯英英词典

the

1. 1. determiner [article] used preceding a noun that has been previously specified - Compare a

   the pain should disappear soon

   the man then opened the door

2. 2. determiner used with a qualifying word or phrase to indicate a particular person, object, etc, as distinct from others - Compare a

   ask the man standing outside

   give me the blue one

3. 3. determiner used preceding certain nouns associated with one's culture, society, or community

   to go to the doctor

   listen to the news

   watch the television

4. 4. determiner used preceding present participles and adjectives when they function as nouns

   the singing is awful

   the dead salute you

5. 5. determiner used preceding titles and certain uniquely specific or proper nouns, such as place names

   the United States

   the Honourable Edward Brown

   the Chairman

   the moon

6. 6. determiner used preceding a qualifying adjective or noun in certain names or titles

   William the Conqueror

   Edward the First

7. 7. determiner used preceding a noun to make it refer to its class generically

   the white seal is hunted for its fur

   this is good for the throat

   to play the piano

8. 8. determiner used instead of my, your, her, etc, with parts of the body

   take me by the hand

9. 9. determiner [usually stressed] the best, only, or most remarkable

   Harry's is the club in this town

10. 10. determiner used with proper nouns when qualified

    written by the young Hardy

11. 11. determiner another word for per, esp with nouns or noun phrases of cost

    fifty pence the pound

12. 12. determiner [often facetious or derogatory] my; our

    the wife goes out on Thursdays

13. 13. determiner used preceding a unit of time in phrases or titles indicating an outstanding person, event, etc

    match of the day

    housewife of the year

14. 14. determiner [Etymology] Middle English, from Old English the, a demonstrative adjective that later superseded se (masculine singular) and seo, sio (feminine singular); related to Old Frisian thi, thiu, Old High German der, diu

the [ðə]

1. 1. adv [often foll by for] used before comparative adjectives or adverbs for emphasis

   she looks the happier for her trip

2. 2. adv used correlatively before each of two comparative adjectives or adverbs to indicate equality

   the sooner you come, the better

   the more I see you, the more I love you

3. 3. adv [Etymology] Old English thi, thy, instrumental case of the¹ and that; related to Old Norse thi, Gothic thei