(地区)人口减少的;(尤指因战争、灾害、迁徙等而)变得人烟稀少的。也可作动词 depopulate 的过去式/过去分词形式。
/ˌdiːˈpɒpjʊleɪtɪd/(英)
/ˌdiːˈpɑːpjəˌleɪtɪd/(美)
The village was depopulated after the flood.
洪水过后,这个村庄变得人烟稀少。
Once-thriving rural towns became depopulated as jobs moved to the cities, leaving behind empty schools and closed shops.
曾经繁荣的乡镇随着工作机会转移到城市而逐渐人口流失,留下空荡的学校和关门的商店。
由前缀 de-(表示“去除、减少”)+ populate(使……有人口、居住)构成;populate 源自拉丁语 populus(人民、民众)。**-ed** 表示完成状态,因此 depopulated 常作形容词,强调“已经变得人口稀少”的结果。