belief /biˈli:f/ n. 1.［c］&［u］确信，信心；信念: hold a firm belief that… 坚决相信…I haven’t much belief in his honesty.我不大相信他的诚实。He found it difficult to explain his beliefs to Philip. 他发现很难向菲力普解释他的信念。beyond belief令人难以置信的：The driving we have witnessed was beyond belief. 我们亲眼目睹的驾车场面令人难以置信。2.［c］信仰，信条: religious beliefs 宗教信仰 The belief had spread and grown till it became known to all. 这种信仰蔓延滋长，直到人人都知道它。
believe /biˈli:v/ I. vt.& vi.相信，认为（跟名词/代词、从句和n., to be, to have 等复合结构）：He tells me that this table is 200 years old, but I don’t believe it. 他告诉我此桌是200年前的遗物，但我不信其说。People used to believe that the world was flat.(=…believe the world to be flat.)人们从前认为地球是扁平的。I believe him to be dead. 我相信他已死了。We believe him an excellent student.我们相信他是一个优秀学生。They are believed to have discussed this problem. 据信这个问题他们已讨论过了。At first people refused to believe such a thing possible. 开始人们都不肯相信这样的事是可能的。We believed the gentleman satisfied. 我们以为这位绅士已觉满意。Will everything be finished by tomorrow? —Yes,I believe so.“所有的事明天都可以办完吗?” “是的，我认为可以。” believe in相信，信任，信仰： I always believe in you, but I don’t believe you this time. 我一向信得过你，可这回我不信。believe it or not（口语）信不信由你［考句］Believe it or not, his discovery has created a stir in scientific circles.信不信由你，他的发现在科学界引起了轰动。
