1 useless; failing to produce the result you want 无用的;徒劳的:
She turned away in a vain attempt to hide her tears.她转过身去,想要掩饰自己的眼泪,可惜白费力气。
2 (used about a person) too proud of your own appearance, abilities, etc (指人)爱虚荣的,自负的,自视过高的:
He's so vain -- he looks in every mirror he passes.他很爱虚荣,每经过一面镜子都要照一照。☞noun vanity 名词为vanity➔vainlyadv
in vain without success 徒然;白费力:
The firemen tried in vain to put out the fire.消防员尝试扑灭那场火,可惜徒劳无功。
vain/ven; veIn/adj 1 disapproving too proud of yourself, especially of your appearance [→ vanity]【贬】自负的﹐自视过高的: Men can be so vain. 男人有时候非常自负。see box at见 PROUD 方框2 in vain without success 徒劳地: Doctors tried in vain to save his life. 医生试图挽救他的生命﹐但是回天乏术。3 vain attempt/hope etc a vain hope or attempt is not successful 徒劳的尝试/徒然的希望等 —vainly adv
vainvainvainervainestadjective (vainer, vainest)1too proud of what you can do or how you lookThe noun is vanity.2useless; without success: They made a vain attempt to save his life.in vainwithout success: I tried in vain to sleep.