n.[C]

1. （时间的）流逝，间隔[（+of）]
   Her grief over her child's death was not at all relieved by the lapse of time.

   时间的推移并未减轻她的失子之痛。

2. 小错，失误
   I had a lapse of memory.

   我记错了。

3. 跌落，下降
   a lapse of confidence

   信心的丧失

4. 失检；偏离[（+from）]
5. 【律】（权力等的）消失，权力失效

vi.

1. 失检；背离[（+from）]
   He sometimes lapses from good behavior.

   他有时行为失检。

2. 陷入[（+into）]
   We talked nonstop at first, but soon lapsed into silence.

   开始我们谈个不停，但过不多久我们陷入了沉默。

3. （时间）流逝
   Several hours lapsed before he woke up.

   过了好几个小时他才醒。

4. （权力等）终止，失效
   The lease has lapsed.

   这一租约已经失效。

n.

1. a brief failure of concentration, memory, or judgement.
   ▸a decline from previously high standards.
2. an interval of time.
3. Law  the termination of a right or privilege through disuse or failure to follow appropriate procedures.

v.

1. (of a right, privilege, or agreement) become invalid because it is not used, claimed, or renewed.
2. cease to follow the rules and practices of a religion or doctrine.
3. (lapse into) pass gradually into (a different, often worse, state or condition).