[countable, uncountable] a special activity or purpose of a person or thing作用；功能；机能；职能◆to fulfil/perform a useful function发挥／起有益作用◆Smartphones combine the functions of cellphones and handheld computers.智能手机结合了手机和掌上电脑的功能。◆Your function is to run your department efficiently.你的职责是有效地管理你的部门。 [countable] the part of a company that is responsible for a particular area（公司的）职能部门◆accounting, manufacturing, sales and marketing and other corporate functions会计、生产、销售和营销以及公司其他职能部门◆We considered splitting up our key business functions so that they were not all in one place.我们考虑拆分主要的营运部门，这样它们就不会集中在一个地方了。 (IT 信息技术) [countable] a part of a program, etc. that carries out a basic operation子程序◆the function keys功能键 [countable] a social event or official ceremony社交聚会；宴会；庆典◆The staff are allowed two social functions a year.员工一年能有两次社交聚会。 [singular] a function of sth if one thing is a function of another, its value depends on the varying values of the other thing函数；应变量◆(figurative) Salary is a function of age and experience.工资视乎年龄和经验而定。