(1) 1)更喜欢，偏好(爱) (desire or liking for sth (more than sth else)) [U， a～][N(for)]： have a～for French novels/classical music/blue/vegetables and fruit 偏爱法国小说/古典音乐/蓝色/吃蔬菜和水果;Do you have any～between tea and coffee? 茶和咖啡你更喜欢哪一样?My～is for wild flowers rather than cultivated ones. 我更喜欢野生的花而不喜欢人工培育的花。It's entirely a matter of～. 这完全是喜不喜欢的问题。continue to live in a country by～由于偏好而在一个国家里生活下去;〖同〗liking; 2)偏爱物 (thing that is liked better or best) [C]： What are your～s? 你较喜爱些什么?Tea or coffee? Which is your～?喝茶还是喝咖啡? 喜欢哪一样?Her～in reading is a novel. 在读书方面她更喜欢小说。

(2)优先考虑，特别对待(special favour or consideration shown to one person， group， etc rather than another) [U][N(to/towards)]： (teacher) show～to an especially clever child (教师)对特别聪明的孩子表现出偏爱;In considering candidates for this job， we give～towards those with some experience. 在考虑这件工作的人选时，我们优先考虑有些经验的人。Those who have worked here for many years will be given～over newcomers. 在这里工作多年的人将比新来的人受优待。College graduates generally get job～over high school graduates. 大学毕业生一般要比高中毕业生好找工作。～shares/stock (AmE preferred shares/stock) 优先股;〖同〗favouring，advantage，priority;

in preference to sb/sth 而不要某人(物)： He chose to learn the flute in～to the violin. 他选择学吹长笛而不是拉小提琴。

←pre′fer vt;

→͵prefe′rential adj 优先的;优待的;优惠的