1 [C] a thing or person that makes sth happen 因由；原因: The police do not know the cause of the accident. 警方仍未查明事故的起因。Smoking is one of the causes of heart disease. 吸烟是心脏病的病因之一。

2 [U] cause (for sth) reason for feeling sth or behaving in a particular way 理由；依据: The doctor assured us that there was no cause for concern. 医生向我们保证没什么好担心的。I don't think you have any real cause for complaint. 我看不出你真有什么可以抱怨的。

3 [C] an idea or organization that a group of people believe in and support 目标；事业: We are all committed to the cause of racial equality. 我们大家都以种族平等为奋斗目标。