0 the reason why something, especially something bad, happens -- （尤指不好的事情发生的）原因，起因
He's never given me any cause for concern. 他从未让我担心过。
I believe we have/there is just cause (= a fair reason) for taking this action. 我认为我们采取这样的行动有正当的理由。
I wouldn't tell you without (good) cause (= if there was not a (good) reason). 没有（正当的）理由，我是不会告诉你的。
The police are still trying to establish the cause of the fire. 警方仍在努力查证失火的原因。
1 a socially valuable principle that is strongly supported by some people -- （为某些人所强烈支持的）原则，事业，目标
I'll sponsor you for £10 - it's all in a good cause. 我资助你10英镑——这都是为了做正经事嘛。
They are fighting for a cause - the liberation of their people. 他们正为解放人民这一事业而战斗。
2 to make something happen, especially something bad -- 使（不好的事情）发生；造成，导致
[ + two objects ] I hope the children haven't caused you too much trouble. 我希望孩子们没给你添太多麻烦。
Most heart attacks are caused by blood clots. 大多数心脏病发作都是由于血液凝块所致。
[ + obj + to infinitive ] The bright light caused her to blink. 明亮的光线刺得她直眨眼睛。
The difficult driving conditions caused several accidents. 艰难的驾驶条件引发了好几起事故。
3 because -- 因为，由于
This effect causes target position to be misperceived when it is surrounded by a frame presented asymmetrically.
But the argument from selective refutation can be misleading when it causes us to fail to notice that the surviving hypothesis has its own defects.
Removing water from living tissues causes a series of dehydration stresses.
These stresses and antisocial behavior may, in turn, cause an increase in children's internalizing problems through the life course.
Another possible cause for the generally higher stresses in the present study is that the present mixing layer is in relatively early development.
The straightforward thing to say, in both cases, is that removing the life support caused the patient's death.
The excited atom interacts with the vacuum fluctuations which cause the spontaneous emission of radiation.
For instance, over-blowing on a wind instrument can cause an octave rise, which holds as the pressure is reduced.
