/mɪˈsteɪk ||; məˈstek/noun [C] something that you think or do that is wrong 错误；过失: Try not to make any mistakesin your essays. 写文章时要努力不犯错误。a spelling mistake 拼写错误It was a big mistake to trust her. 信任她真是一个大错误。I made the mistake of giving him my address. 我错在把自己的地址给了他。 by mistake as a result of being careless 弄错；由于不小心: The terrorists shot the wrong man by mistake. 那些恐怖分子认错了人，开枪打伤了那名男子。 ☞ Error is more formal than mistake a computing error. Fault indicates who is responsible for sth bad The accident wasn't my fault. The other driver pulled out in front of me. Fault is also used to describe a problem or weakness that sb/sth has a technical fault 与mistake相比，error多用于正式场合：a computing error计算机错误。fault表明应该归咎谁：The accident wasn't my fault. The other driver pulled out in front of me.这意外不是我的过错，而是另一个司机突然把车开到我面前。fault也指人或事物的毛病或缺点：a technical fault技术性故障