() the complete control of trade in particular goods or the supply of a particular service; the type of goods or service that is controlled in this way 垄断；专卖◆They have a virtual monopoly in PC operating systems. 他们几乎垄断了个人电脑操作系统。◆Electricity, gas and water were considered to be natural monopolies. 电力、燃气和供水过去被认为是自然垄断行业。◆Health care has long been a public/state monopoly (= owned and controlled by the government). 医疗保健长期以来完全由政府管理。◆Ending the monopoly on letter deliveries would cost the company millions. 终止对邮件投递业务的垄断将给这家公司造成数百万元的损失。⨁to create / extend / have a monopoly 建立／扩大／拥有垄断⨁to break (up) / end / lose a monopoly 打破／结束／丧失垄断
sth that is completely controlled or owned by one person or group, so that other people do not or cannot share it 独有；独占◆Managers do not have a monopoly on stress. 并非只有经理才有压力。◆The fight against corruption is not the monopoly of industrialized countries. 并非只有工业化国家才需要惩治腐败。⨁to have / hold a monopoly 拥有／持有垄断权