Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Desiccate'

English Word: desiccate

Key Russian Translations:

• высушивать [vɨˈsuʂɨvətʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Imperfective]
• высушить [ˈvɨsuʂɨtʲ] - [Formal, Verb, Perfective]
• иссушать [ɪˈsuʂətʲ] - [Formal, Literary, Verb, Imperfective]

Frequency: Medium (used in specific contexts like science, cooking, or literature)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for "высушивать" and "высушить"; C1 (Advanced) for "иссушать" due to its literary tone

Pronunciation (Russian):

высушивать: [vɨˈsuʂɨvətʲ]

Note on высушивать: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ш" sound is a retroflex fricative, distinct from English "sh."

высушить: [ˈvɨsuʂɨtʲ]

Note on высушить: Stress on the first syllable. Similar pronunciation to "высушивать" but shorter due to perfective aspect.

иссушать: [ɪˈsuʂətʲ]

Note on иссушать: Stress on the second syllable. Less common, with a slightly more intense connotation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To remove moisture from something (literal, e.g., food, soil):

Translation(s) & Context:

• высушивать/высушить - Used for drying objects, food, or materials in everyday or technical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Мы высушиваем фрукты на солнце.

  We desiccate fruits in the sun.

• Нужно высушить траву перед хранением.

  You need to desiccate the grass before storing it.

• Машина высушивает бельё за час.

  The machine desiccates the laundry in an hour.

2. To make something dry or lifeless (figurative, e.g., emotions, land):

Translation(s) & Context:

• иссушать - Often used metaphorically for drying up emotions, land, or vitality, primarily in literary contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Горе иссушает душу.

  Grief desiccates the soul.

• Жара иссушает землю в этом регионе.

  The heat desiccates the land in this region.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

высушивать (Imperfective Verb): Regular verb of the first conjugation. Below is a sample conjugation in present tense:

Person	Form
1st Singular (I)	высушиваю [vɨˈsuʂɨvəju]
2nd Singular (You)	высушиваешь [vɨˈsuʂɨvəɪʂ]
3rd Singular (He/She/It)	высушивает [vɨˈsuʂɨvəɪt]
1st Plural (We)	высушиваем [vɨˈsuʂɨvəɪm]
2nd Plural (You all)	высушиваете [vɨˈsuʂɨvəɪtʲɪ]
3rd Plural (They)	высушивают [vɨˈsuʂɨvəjut]

высушить (Perfective Verb): Paired with "высушивать," used for completed actions. Past tense example: высушил (masc.), высушила (fem.).

иссушать (Imperfective Verb): Similar conjugation pattern to "высушивать," but less common and often used metaphorically.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for высушивать/высушить:

• сушить
• обезвоживать (technical)

Note: "сушить" is more general and common, while "обезвоживать" is used in scientific contexts.

Antonyms:

• увлажнять (to moisten)
• смачивать (to wet)

Related Phrases:

• высушивать на воздухе - to air-dry (used for drying naturally without equipment)
• высушить до костей - to desiccate to the bone (figurative, meaning extreme exhaustion or deprivation)
• иссушать сердце - to desiccate the heart (literary, meaning to drain emotions or compassion)

Usage Notes:

• "высушивать" (imperfective) is used for ongoing or repeated drying actions, while "высушить" (perfective) indicates a completed action. English speakers must choose based on context.
• "иссушать" is rarely used in everyday speech and is more appropriate for poetic or literary expressions.
• These verbs often require a direct object in Russian, unlike English where "desiccate" can be intransitive in some contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "высушивать" for a completed action. Incorrect: Я высушиваю яблоки вчера. Correct: Я высушил яблоки вчера (I desiccated the apples yesterday). Explanation: Use the perfective "высушить" for past completed actions.
• Error: Confusing "иссушать" with everyday drying. Incorrect: Я иссушаю одежду. Correct: Я высушиваю одежду. Explanation: "иссушать" is too formal and metaphorical for mundane tasks.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian literature, especially in works describing harsh climates or emotional struggles, "иссушать" often appears to convey desolation or loss. For example, it might describe arid landscapes in Central Asian settings or emotional barrenness in classic novels by Dostoevsky or Tolstoy.

Related Concepts:

• сушка (drying process)
• обезвоживание (dehydration)
• засуха (drought)