cause
/kɔ:z; kɔz/ n
1 [C] that which produces an effect; thing, event, person, etc that makes sth happen 原因; 导致某事物发生的事物、 人等
What was the cause of the fire? 火灾是怎样引起的?
Smoking is one of the causes of heart disease. 吸烟是引起心脏病的一种病因.
Police are investigating the causes of the explosion. 警方正在调查爆炸的原因.
2 [U] ~ (for sth) reason 理由; 缘故
There is no cause for anxiety. 不必忧虑.
You have no cause for complaint/no cause to complain. 你没有理由抱怨.
She is never absent from work without good cause. 她决不无故缺勤. =>Usage at reason1 用法见reason1.
3 [C] aim, principle or movement that is strongly defended or supported 极力维护或支持的目标、 原则或运动; 事业
a good cause, ie one that deserves to be supported, eg a charity 高尚的目标（应为之尽力的目标, 如慈善事业）
He fought for the republican cause in the civil war. 他在内战中为共和事业而战.
Her life was devoted to the cause of justice. 她为正义事业而献身.
4 [C] (law 律) question to be resolved in a court of law 诉讼的问题或事由
pleading one's cause 辩护; 分辩.
5 (idm 习语) a lost cause => lose2. make common cause with sb => common1. the root cause => root1. cause, v [Tn, Tnt, Dn.n, Dn.pr]
~ sth (for sb) be the cause of (sth); make happen 造成（某事物）; 使发生
Smoking can cause lung cancer. 吸烟可致肺癌.
What caused the explosion? 爆炸是怎样引起的?
The cold weather caused the plants to die. 天气寒冷冻死了植物.
He caused his parents much unhappiness. 他弄得父母很不愉快.
She's always causing trouble for people. 她总是给人添麻烦. cause, NOTE ON USAGE 用法
The verbs cause, bring about and make indicate how a certain result, situation or event happens *cause、bring about、make均表示某结果、 某情况或某事情是怎样造成或发生的. These verbs are used in a variety of patterns. 这几个动词可用於多种句型. Bring about and cause can be used with a direct object indicating the result *bring about和cause . Bring about is more formal and refers to a less direct cause *bring about较文, 所表示的因果关系不那麽直接
Smoking can cause lung cancer. 吸烟可致肺癌.
The war brought about a reduction in the birth-rate. 战争导致出生率下降. Cause can connect the result with the person, etc affected *cause可指所产生的结果与所涉及的人等有关
My car has caused me a lot of trouble. 我的汽车给我带来很多麻烦.
His parents were caused a lot of worry by his laziness. 他很懒惰, 使父母大伤脑筋. Cause and make can be used with ( to +) an infinitive, but not in the passive *cause和make可与（to +）不定式连用, 但不可用於被动语态
The pepper in the food caused me to/made me sneeze. 这食物中的胡椒味儿呛得我直打喷嚏. When make means `compel', it can be used in the passive (with to + infinitive) 当make意为｀迫使＇时, 可用於被动语态（与 to+不定式连用）
They made him pay for the damage he had done/He was made to pay for the damage he had done. 那些人叫他赔偿由他造成的损失[他被迫赔偿自己所造成的损失].