/ˈæksɪdənt ||; ˈæksədənt/noun [C] an unpleasant event that happens unexpectedly and causes damage, injury or death 意外；事故: I hope they haven't had an accident. 我希望他们没有出事。a car accident 车祸a fatal accident (= when sb is killed) 致命的意外I didn't mean to kick you, it was an accident. 我不是有心踢你，意外而已。 by accident by chance; without intending to 偶然；意外地: I knocked the vase over by accident as I was cleaning. 我打扫卫生时不小心打翻了花瓶。