n(1) 受宠(偏)爱的人或物(person or thing that is loved best or preferred above all others) [C] [N(of)]：That song is a～of mine/a general～. 那首歌是我所偏爱的/人们普遍喜爱的(一首歌)。The eldest daughter is his～. 大女儿是他最宠爱的(孩子)。He was a great～of/with the boss. 他是老板的大红人。His mild character makes him a～among his colleagues. 他因性情温和深受同事们喜爱。〖同〗choice，pet，darling;

(2) 亲信，心腹(person who is given too much favour) [C] (Derog)：The president gave most of the important positions in the government to his～s. 总统将政府中大部分要职都给了他的亲信。

(3) 最有希望获胜的人、马等(competitor，horse，etc considered most likely to win)[C，the～]：The～came second in the race. 最有希望获胜的马(人)在比赛中获得第二名。The young candidate is the～in the election. 那位年轻的候选人极有希望在选举中获胜。

adj 最喜爱的(liked best;preferred above all others) [作attrib]：my～writer/city/way of learning 我最喜欢的作家/城市/学习方式;〖同〗 preferred，pet，choice;

←′favo(u)r n;vt 喜爱，偏袒;

→′favo(u)ritism n 偏爱(袒)，不公平;

【辨异】 favourite与beloved和lovely 的区别见 BELOVED。