prevail /priˈveil/ vi. 1. 流行，盛行 (和among, in, throughout连用 )：A belief in magic still prevails among some tribes. 某些部落仍普遍相信巫术。This custom does not prevail in this region now. 在本地这种风俗现在已经不流行了。［考句］So far, prevailing winds and currents have kept the thick patch of oil southeast of the Atlantic coast.迄今为止，主要的风向和海潮的流向把浓稠的漂浮油层涌向大西洋的东南海岸。2.获胜，占优势(和over或against连用)：prevail against the enemy 胜过敌人Truth will prevail over falsehood, right over wrong. 真理终究要战胜谎言；正确终究要战胜谬误。
prevalence /ˈprevələns/ n. [u]流行，盛行，普遍，广泛：the prevalence of burglaries盗窃盛行；the prevalence of TV电视的普及
prevalent /ˈprevələnt/ adj. 流行的，普遍的：the social ills prevalent in society today当今社会盛行的社会弊病［考句］Some studies confirmed that this kind of eye disease was prevalent in tropical countries.研究表明这种眼病在热带国家很普遍。
