lapse

1. N-COUNT A lapse is a moment or instance of bad behaviour by someone who usually behaves well. (一时的) 行为失检

On Friday he showed neither decency nor dignity. It was an uncommon lapse. 星期五他既不庄重也不体面。这可是他少有的失礼。

2. N-COUNT A lapse of something such as concentration or judgment is a temporary lack of that thing, which can often cause you to make a mistake. (一时的) 走神; 判断错误

I had a little lapse of concentration in the middle of the race. 我在比赛中走了一下神。

He was a genius and because of it you could accept lapses of taste. 他是一个天才，因此他偶失得体，人们也可以接受。

3. V-I If you lapse into a quiet or inactive state, you stop talking or being active. 陷入 (某种静止状态)

She muttered something unintelligible and lapsed into silence. 她咕哝了几句难以理解的话，然后就陷入了沉默。

4. V-I If someone lapses into a particular way of speaking, or behaving, they start speaking or behaving in that way, usually for a short period. 开始 (以某种方式) 说话; 开始行事

She lapsed into a little girl voice to deliver a nursery rhyme. 她用小女孩的声音唱起了一首童谣。

5. N-COUNT Lapse is also a noun. 开始说; 开始做

Her lapse into German didn't seem peculiar. After all, it was her native tongue. 她开始说德语并不奇怪，毕竟那是她的母语。

6. N-SING A lapse of time is a period that is long enough for a situation to change or for people to have a different opinion about it. (时间的) 间隔

...the restoration of diplomatic relations after a lapse of 24 years. …间隔24年后外交关系的恢复。

7. V-I If a period of time lapses, it passes. 流逝

New products and production processes are transferred to the developing countries only after a substantial amount of time has lapsed. 只有经过很长时间以后，新产品和新生产流程才转移到发展中国家。

8. V-I If a situation or legal contract lapses, it is allowed to end rather than being continued, renewed, or extended. 终止

The terms of the treaty lapsed in 1987. 协定的条款在1987年就终止了。

9. V-I If a member of a particular religion lapses, they stop believing in it or stop following its rules and practices. 放弃 (宗教信仰)

I lapsed in my 20s, returned to it, then lapsed again, while writing the life of historical Jesus. 我20来岁就放弃信教，后来又信了。到后来在写历史上的耶稣生平时又放弃了信教。