instalment/installment /inˈstɔ:lmənt/ n. ［c］ 1.分期付款，分期交付：pay by/in installment 分期付款；be sold (buy) on installments 用分期付款的方法销售(购买) ［考句］ We couldn’t really afford to buy a house so we got it on hire purchase and paid monthly installments.我们实在买不起房子，所以采用租购办法即分期每月付款买到了房子。2. (分期连载的)部分：read installments of the story in the newspaper 在报上读这故事的连载；a story that will appear in installments 将分期连载的故事