Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Diffuse'

English Word: Diffuse

Key Russian Translations:

• рассеивать [rɐsʲsʲeˈɪvətʲ] - [Verb, Used for scattering light or ideas]
• распространять [rɐsprɐstrɐˈnʲætʲ] - [Verb, Used for spreading information or influence]
• рассеянный [rɐsʲsʲeˈjænɨj] - [Adjective, Used for describing something scattered or unfocused]

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

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) for verbs; B1 (Lower Intermediate) for adjective form

Pronunciation (Russian):

рассеивать: [rɐsʲsʲeˈɪvətʲ]

Note on рассеивать: Stress falls on the third syllable; ensure the soft 'с' sound is pronounced clearly.

распространять: [rɐsprɐstrɐˈnʲætʲ]

Note on распространять: Stress on the fourth syllable; the cluster 'стр' can be challenging for non-native speakers.

рассеянный: [rɐsʲsʲeˈjænɨj]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To spread or scatter (physical or abstract)

Translation(s) & Context:

• рассеивать - Used for scattering light, heat, or abstract concepts like doubts.
• распространять - Used for spreading information, rumors, or influence over a wide area.

Usage Examples:

• Свет рассеивается через призму.

  Light diffuses through a prism.

• Он пытался рассеивать сомнения своих коллег.

  He tried to diffuse the doubts of his colleagues.

• Они распространяют новости через социальные сети.

  They diffuse news through social media.

2. Scattered or unfocused (description)

Translation(s) & Context:

• рассеянный - Used to describe something dispersed or a person who is absent-minded.

Usage Examples:

• Его взгляд был рассеянный и задумчивый.

  His gaze was diffuse and thoughtful.

• Она часто бывает рассеянной на уроках.

  She is often diffuse (absent-minded) during classes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

рассеивать (verb, imperfective): Follows regular conjugation for verbs ending in -ать. Often paired with perfective form рассеять.

Person	Present Tense	Past Tense (Masc./Fem./Neut./Pl.)
Я (I)	рассеиваю	рассеивал / рассеивала / рассеивало / рассеивали
Ты (You, sing.)	рассеиваешь	рассеивал / рассеивала / рассеивало / рассеивали
Он/Она/Оно (He/She/It)	рассеивает	рассеивал / рассеивала / рассеивало / рассеивали

распространять (verb, imperfective): Regular conjugation, paired with perfective распространить.

рассеянный (adjective): Declines based on gender, number, and case as a regular adjective.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for рассеивать:

• разгонять (to disperse, often physical)
• развеивать (to dispel, often abstract like doubts)

Synonyms for распространять:

• рассылать (to send out, often information)
• пропагандировать (to propagate, often ideas)

Antonyms for рассеивать:

• собирать (to gather)
• концентрировать (to concentrate)

Related Phrases:

• рассеивать свет - to diffuse light (used in physics or optics)
• рассеивать внимание - to diffuse attention (to lose focus)
• распространять слухи - to diffuse rumors (to spread gossip)

Usage Notes:

• Choosing between translations: Use "рассеивать" when referring to scattering something physical (like light) or abstract (like doubts). Use "распространять" for spreading information or influence over a wide area.

• Aspectual pairs: Both verbs are imperfective; their perfective counterparts ("рассеять" and "распространить") imply completed action and are crucial for correct tense usage.

• Adjective form: "рассеянный" can describe both physical scattering and mental absent-mindedness, depending on context.

Common Errors:

• Mixing verbs: English speakers often confuse "рассеивать" and "распространять". For example, saying "рассеивать новости" (incorrect) instead of "распространять новости" (correct) for spreading news.

• Incorrect aspect: Using imperfective "рассеивать" when a completed action is implied. Correct: "Он рассеял мои сомнения" (perfective) instead of "Он рассеивает мои сомнения" in a past context.

Cultural Notes:

The term "рассеянный" when applied to a person (meaning absent-minded) often carries a gentle, affectionate tone in Russian, as opposed to a negative connotation. It is famously associated with literary characters like the absent-minded professor.

Related Concepts:

• диффузия (diffusion, scientific term)
• разброс (dispersion, scattering)
• пропаганда (propagation, spreading of ideas)