provocation
US /ˌprɑː.vəˈkeɪ.ʃən/
UK /ˌprɑː.vəˈkeɪ.ʃən/
1.
挑衅, 激怒
action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry, especially deliberately
:
•
He reacted violently to the slightest provocation.
他对最轻微的挑衅都反应激烈。
•
The police were trained to handle situations without provocation.
警方受过训练，可以在没有挑衅的情况下处理情况。
2.
导火索, 诱因
something that causes a reaction or response
:
•
The new policy was a provocation for widespread protests.
新政策是引发广泛抗议的导火索。
•
His silence was a deliberate provocation.
他的沉默是一种故意的挑衅。