Reading Theme:
Resort: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：a vacation destination (resort)
resort
/rɪˈzɔːrt/
n./vi.
A place where people go on holiday, often with hotels, swimming pools, and entertainment.
a vacation destination
➕
ə vəˈkeɪʃən ˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃən
n./vi.
A resort is a commercial establishment designed for tourism, offering accommodations, entertainment, and recreational facilities, often in scenic locations like beaches or mountains.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
Derived from Old French 'resorter', meaning 'to go out again', from Latin 're-' (again) and 'sortiri' (to draw lots or choose). It evolved to denote a place for leisure or an action taken when options are limited.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 'REsort' as RE-visiting a SORT of escape for vacations, or RE-verting to a SORT of desperate action when stuck. This links both meanings to the idea of turning to something.
📖 Example
For our summer vacation, we decided to book a resort in Thailand that had its own private beach and kids' club.
For our summer holiday, we opted to reserve a resort in Thailand that included a private beach and a children's club.
🔗 Collocations
book a resort – to make a reservation at a holiday resort
beachfront resort – a resort located directly on the beach
🔄 Synonyms
holiday complex (n.) – a large facility offering various leisure activities for vacationers
vacation village (n.) – a self-contained resort with multiple amenities
🚫 Antonyms
wilderness (n.) – a natural environment without commercial developments
📖 Cultural Story
The term 'resort' originated in the 14th century from Old French, initially meaning 'to go out' or 'return'. By the 18th century, it began referring to fashionable holiday destinations. In modern English, 'resort to' is frequently used in legal and business contexts to describe adopting a last-resort strategy when negotiations break down.
Meaning 2：to turn to as a last option (resort)
resort
/rɪˈzɔːrt/
n./vi.
To use or do something, often a less desirable action, because you have no other choice to solve a problem.
to turn to as a last option
➕
tə tɜːrn tuː əz ə lɑːst ˈɒpʃən
n./vi.
To resort to something means to adopt a particular action, often seen as less desirable or extreme, when all other alternatives have failed to resolve a problem.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
When negotiations broke down, the company had to resort to legal action to protect its rights.
When negotiations collapsed, the company had to use legal action as a final measure to safeguard its rights.
🔗 Collocations
resort to violence – to use physical force as a last resort
last resort – the final option available when others are exhausted
🔄 Synonyms
turn to (v.) – to seek help or adopt a course of action when in need
fall back on (v.) – to rely on something as a backup option
🚫 Antonyms
avoid (v.) – to keep away from or refrain from using
refrain from (v.) – to hold back from doing something
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