(1)姐，妹(girl or woman born of the same parents as another person)[C]：one's elder(older)/big/younger/little～姐姐/姐姐/妹妹/妹妹;brothers and～s 兄弟姐妹;twin～s 孪生姐妹;a foster～收养的姐姐(妹妹);a half～(= stepsister)异父(母)姐(妹);Those three girls are～s. 那三个女孩是姐妹。She was a～to the homeless child. 她是那个无家可归的孩子的姐姐。She was like a～to us. 她对我们亲如姐妹。

(2)姐妹(woman who is in the same group，esp a socialist or women's rights organization)[C]：a sorority～大学女生联谊会会员;We must fight for equal opportunities，～s! 姐妹们，我们必须为平等的机会而奋斗! They will go to Paris and stay with the feminist～s there. 她们要去巴黎与女权主义姐妹们待在一起。

(3)护士(长)(nurse，esp a head nurse in a ward of a hospital)[C]：the night～夜班护士;She is a～on Ward Five. 她是五号病房的护士。S～Jones is in charge here tonight. 今晚这里由琼斯护士长负责。

(4)修女，尼姑(female member of a religious group)[C]：a Christian～基督教修女;S～s of Mercy 慈善事业修女会;the Little S～s of the Poor 贫民救济修女会;S～Catherine 凯瑟琳修女;

(5)相同类型的东西(one of the same kind or model)[C]：Four～s to the battleship are to be built. 计划给这艘兵舰造四艘姊妹舰。～school/city 姊妹学校/城市;

→′sisterhood n 姐妹关系;妇女团体;′sisterly adj 姐妹般的;′sister-in-law n 丈夫或妻子的姐妹，嫂子，弟媳;

【注意】表示某某姐妹时，sisters放在姓氏后，如：the White Sisters(参见BROTHER)。