a society or organization founded for a religious, educational, social, or similar purpose (以宗教、教育、社交等为目的的)协会,机构 a certificate from a professional institution. 专业机构发的证书。 ■an organization providing residential care for people with special needs 慈善机构,社会福利机构 an institution for the severely handicapped. 为重伤残人士设立的社会慈善机构。 ■an established official organization having an important role in the life of a country, such as a bank, Church, or parliament (银行、教会、议会等)机构 the institutions of democratic government. 民主政府的各机构。 ■a large company or other organization involved in financial trading 大金融公司;大金融机构 City institutions. 城市金融机构。
an established law, practice, or custom 制度;惯例;风俗 the institution of marriage. 婚姻制度。 ■(informal)a well-established and familiar person, custom, or object (非正式)人尽皆知的人(或风俗、物体) he soon became something of a national institution. 他很快成为举国皆知的人物。
[mass noun]the action of instituting something 建立,设立;开始 a delay in the institution of proceedings. 诉讼延期。
语源
late Middle English (in senses 2 and 3 ): via Old French from Latin institutio(n-), from the verb instituere (see institute). Sense 1 dates from the early 18th cent