(1)虚(脆，软)弱(state or quality of being weak)[U]：get over one's～and fatigue 从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来;the～of sb's tired muscles/sb's character 某人疲劳的肌肉软弱无力/性格懦弱; My～has kept me in bed/is due to poor nutrition.我虚弱得起不了床/我的虚弱是因为营养不良。The president was accused of～in dealing with the crisis. 总统因处理危机不力而受到指责。the～of a country's defences/the argument 国防力量的薄弱/论点的无力;The strong evidence revealed the～of the prosecution's case. 强有力的证据表明原告理由不充足。〖反〗strength，vigour，vitality;

(2)弱点，缺陷(weak point or shortcoming)[C]：the fundamental～最根本的缺陷; political and social～es 政治与社会弊端;a structural～in the aircraft 飞机结构上的缺陷; admit/betray/correct one's～承认/暴露/改正自己的弱点; take advantage of sb's～利用某人的弱点; Hardly anyone is without～es of character. 几乎人人都有性格上的弱点。Everyone has his little～es. 每人都有不足之处。His heart is his～. 他的心脏有毛病。The only～of/in the plan is its cost. 该计划的唯一不足是其费用太高。〖同〗fault，shortcoming，defect;〖反〗effectiveness，perfection，soundness;

(3)偏爱(great liking for sth)[C，通常 sing][A(for)]：have a～for sweets/plain chocolate biscuits /ice cream /sports cars/tall women/blondes 偏爱糖果/纯巧克力饼干/冰激凌/赛车/高个儿女子/金发女郎; show a～for the opera 酷爱歌剧; She is my～now. 她是我现在最喜欢的女人。〖同〗fondness，tendency，inclination;〖反〗dislike，hatred，disgust;

← weak adj 软弱的;

【辨异】weakness 与 fault 的区别见FAULT。