(1)下午(period of time that begins at midday or lunch-time and ends at about 6 pm or sunset)[U，C](缩写：pm或p.m.，AmE PM或P.M./ ͵pi：′em/)：in/during the～在下午;in the early/late～在刚过中午/快天黑的时候;on Sunday/the previous/the following～在星期日/头一天/第二天下午;on a Sunday/winter/cool～在一个星期日/冬日/凉爽的下午;on the～of May Day 在五一国际劳动节的下午;this/yesterday/tomorrow/every/one～今天/昨天/明天/每天/一天下午;be at work all the～整个下午在工作;go somewhere three～s a week 每周三个下午去某处;an～walk/sleep/nap/rest/game/performance/train 午后散步/睡觉/小睡/休息/游戏/表演/火车;～tea 下午茶;

(2)黄昏时期，暮时(relatively late period or part (as of time or life))[C]：the～of one's life 晚年;

→͵after′noons adv 每天下午;

【惯用法】作状语时，如：afternoon(以及morning，evening)单独用，或与其他表示时间的短语连用，用in，如：(at 5 o'clock) in the～;若其前有形容词，如为early，late，也用in;如为其他形容词，则用on;若其前有this，tomorrow，every，one，则不用介词(见(1))。