The flashcard defines 'lapse' as a mistake, a temporary failure in behavior or concentration, or a period of time. It can also mean to cease for a period or to return to a previous state, particularly regarding religion or bad behavior. Additionally, it can refer to a contract or agreement becoming invalid.
[N-COUNT 可数名词]闪失；过失；失检 A lapse is a moment or instance of bad behaviour by someone who usually behaves well.
[usu adj N]
On Friday he showed neither decency nor dignity. It was an uncommon lapse.
星期五那天他的表现既不得体，又有失尊严。如此失态非常少有。
2
[N-COUNT 可数名词]（一时的）疏忽，大意，开小差 A lapse of something such as concentration or judgment is a temporary lack of that thing, which can often cause you to make a mistake.
[N of n]
I had a little lapse of concentration in the middle of the race...
我在比赛中途一时走神。
He was a genius and because of it you could accept lapses of taste...
由于他是天才，所以品位上偶有差池大家也不会介意。
The incident was being seen as a serious security lapse.
这一事故被看作是一次严重的安全疏忽。
3
[VERB 动词]陷入，进入（某种安静或静止状态） If you lapse into a quiet or inactive state, you stop talking or being active.
[V into n]
She muttered something unintelligible and lapsed into silence...
她不知嘟囔了几句什么后就不再开口。
Doris Brown closed her eyes and lapsed into sleep.
多丽丝·布朗闭上眼睛，安然入睡。
4
[VERB 动词]（通常指短暂地）进入，陷入（某种说话或行事方式） If someone lapses into a particular way of speaking, or behaving, they start speaking or behaving in that way, usually for a short period.
[V into n]
[usu N into n]
She lapsed into a little girl voice to deliver a nursery rhyme...
她改用童声唱起童谣来。
Teenagers occasionally find it all too much to cope with and lapse into bad behaviour.
青少年偶尔会因感到压力太大无所适从而做出不良行为。
Lapse is also a noun.
Her lapse into German didn't seem peculiar. After all, it was her native tongue.
她冒出几句德语并不足为奇。毕竟那是她的母语。
5
[N-SING 单数名词]（时间的）间隔 A lapse of time is a period that is long enough for a situation to change or for people to have a different opinion about it.
[usu N of n]
...the restoration of diplomatic relations after a lapse of 24 years...
时隔24年后外交关系的恢复
There is usually a time lapse between receipt of new information and its publication.
新信息的接收与发布之间通常会间隔一段时间。
6
[VERB 动词]（时间）流逝，消逝，推移 If a period of time lapses, it passes.
[V]
New products and production processes are transferred to the developing countries only after a substantial amount of time has lapsed.
新的产品和生产工序要经过一段相当长的时间后才能向发展中国家转移。
7
[VERB 动词]结束；终止 If a situation or legal contract lapses, it is allowed to end rather than being continued, renewed, or extended.
[V]
Her membership of the Labour Party has lapsed...
她已不再是工党党员。
Ford allowed the name and trademark to lapse during the Eighties.
福特在20世纪80年代废止了该名称和商标。
8
[VERB 动词]停止信教；背弃信仰；脱离宗教关系 If a member of a particular religion lapses, they stop believing in it or stop following its rules and practices.
[V]
[V-ed]
I lapsed in my 20s, returned to it, then lapsed again, while writing the life of historical Jesus...
我20多岁时曾经停止信教，后来一度又信，再后来撰写历史上耶稣的生平故事时又再脱教。
She calls herself a lapsed Catholic.
她称自己已不再信仰天主教。
Oxford
lapse/læps; NAmElæps/
noun
,
verb
lapselapseslapsedlapsingnoun1a small mistake, especially one that is caused by forgetting sth or by being careless 小错；（尤指）记错，过失，疏忽◆a lapse of concentration/memory心不在焉；记错◆A momentary lapse in the final set cost her the match.她最后一盘一走神儿，输掉了整场比赛。SYN
expire
2a period of time between two things that happen （两件事发生的）间隔时间SYN
interval
◆After a lapse of six months we met up again.相隔六个月之后我们又相遇了。3an example or period of bad behaviour from sb who normally behaves well 行为失检；（平时表现不错的人一时的）失足verb1[intransitive ](of a contract, an agreement, etc. 合同、协议等)to be no longer valid because the period of time that it lasts has come to an end 失效；期满终止◆She had allowed her membership to lapse.她的会员资格期满终止，没有再续。2[intransitive ]to gradually become weaker or come to an end 衰退；衰弱；（逐渐）消失，结束◆His concentration lapsed after a few minutes.几分钟后他的注意力就下降了。3[intransitive ]lapse(from sth) to stop believing in or practising your religion 背弃，放弃（宗教信仰）◆He lapsed from Judaism when he was a student.他当学生时就放弃了犹太教。▶lapsed/; NAmE/adjective[only before noun ]◆a lapsed subscription过期的订购◆lapsed faith背弃的信仰◆a lapsed Catholic丧失信仰的天主教徒PHRASAL VERBˈlapse into sth1to gradually pass into a worse or less active state or condition （逐渐）陷入，进入◆to lapse into unconsciousness/a coma逐渐失去知觉╱陷入昏迷状态◆She lapsed into silenceagain. 她又陷入了沉默。2to start speaking or behaving in a different way, often one that is less acceptable 说话或举止显得异常（常令人难以接受）◆He soon lapsed back into his old ways.他很快又犯老毛病了。lapse/læps; NAmElæps/lapsed/; NAmE/
LDC
lapse1 noun
lapse2 verb
lapselapse1 /læps/ noun [countable]
Word Origin
Examples
Collocations
1a short period of time during which you fail to do something well or properly, often caused by not being carefulmomentary/temporary/occasional etc lapse Despite the occasional lapse, this was a fine performance by the young saxophonist. A defensive lapse by Keown allowed Tottenham to score.lapse in lapses in securitylapse of A single lapse of concentration cost Sampras the game. a lapse of judgement After taking the drug, several patients suffered memory lapses (=when you cannot remember something for a short time).2a failure to do something you should do, especially to behave correctly: He forgot to offer Darren a drink, but Marie did not appear to notice the lapse.3[usually singular] a period of time between two events: The usual time lapse between request and delivery is two days.lapse of a lapse of about ten seconds
lapse1 noun
lapse2 verb
lapselapse2 verb [intransitive]
Verb Table
Examples
Collocations
Phrases
1to gradually come to an end or to stop for a period of time: The conversation lapsed.2 especially British English if a contract, agreement etc lapses, it comes to an end, usually because an agreed time limit has passed: Your booking will automatically lapse unless you confirm it.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say that a contract or agreement runs out rather than lapses:· His club membership had run out.3to stop believing in or following a religion: those people who have lapsed from the practice of their religion4formal if a period of time lapses, it passes: Many years had lapsed since her first visit to Wexford.lapse into phrasal verb1lapse into unconsciousness/silence/sleep etc to go into a quiet or less active state: He lapsed into a coma and died two days later. Alison lapsed into puzzled silence.2to begin to behave or speak in a way that you did before: She lapsed back into her old ways. Occasionally he lapsed into his native German.3to get into a worse state or become worse: Following his death, the Empire lapsed into chaos. His poetry often lapses into sentimentality.