provocation
US /ˌprɑː.vəˈkeɪ.ʃən/
UK /ˌprɑː.vəˈkeɪ.ʃən/
1.
挑釁, 激怒
action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry, especially deliberately
:
•
He reacted violently to the slightest provocation.
他對最輕微的挑釁都反應激烈。
•
The police were trained to handle situations without provocation.
警方受過訓練，可以在沒有挑釁的情況下處理情況。
2.
導火索, 誘因
something that causes a reaction or response
:
•
The new policy was a provocation for widespread protests.
新政策是引發廣泛抗議的導火索。
•
His silence was a deliberate provocation.
他的沉默是一種故意的挑釁。