1、compete

競爭

The banks have long competed with American Express's charge cards and various store cards.

長久以來，這些銀行一直在與美國運通公司的信用卡以及各式各樣的商場賒購卡競爭。

The stores will inevitably end up competing with each other in their push for increased market shares.

在努力爭取更大的市場份額的過程中，這些商場最終將不可避免地相互展開競爭。

（與…）爭奪（以獲取）

Kangaroos compete with sheep and cattle for sparse supplies of food and water.

袋鼠與牛羊爭奪稀少的食物和水。

Schools should not compete with each other or attempt to poach pupils.

學校之間不應該相互競爭，也不應該企圖挖走彼此的學生。

參加(比賽)

He will be competing in the London-Calais-London race.

他將參加倫敦至加來的航海往返賽。

Dubbed foreign language films will not be allowed to compete for best film.

外國譯制片不得參加最佳影片的角逐。

2、variable

多變的;易變的;反復無常的

The potassium content of foodstuffs is very variable.

食物中鉀的含量差別很大。

There was a bit of a wind and it was blowing onshore, variable, but quite strong.

有一陣風朝岸上吹來，風向變化不定，但風力很強。

（質量、數量、規模等）可變因素

Decisions could be made on the basis of price, delivery dates, after-sales service or any other variable.

購買決定可能會基于價格、送貨日期、售后服務以及其他可變因素。

Other variables in making forecasts for the industry include the weather and the general economic climate

對該產業進行預測時還要考慮天氣和宏觀經濟環境等其他不確定因素。