Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'diffuse'

English Word: diffuse

Key Russian Translations:

• распространять [rəsprəˈstranʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, often used in written or professional contexts]
• разносить [rəznosʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, Plural forms may apply in certain contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in discussions of science, communication, and everyday spreading of ideas)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations, but basic forms are accessible to learners beyond beginner level)

Pronunciation (Russian):

распространять: [rəsprəˈstranʲɪtʲ]

разносить: [rəznosʲɪtʲ]

Note on распространять: The stress falls on the third syllable, which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft 'н' sound; pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Note on разносить: Pay attention to the palatalized 'с' sound, which is softer than in English equivalents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To spread or scatter something widely, such as ideas, light, or substances.

Translation(s) & Context:

• распространять - Used in formal contexts like scientific or educational settings, e.g., diffusing knowledge or information.
• разносить - More informal, often for physical spreading, like rumors or diseases in everyday conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Ученые распространяют новые открытия по всему миру.

  Scientists diffuse new discoveries throughout the world.

• Эта новость быстро разнеслась по городу.

  This news diffused quickly through the city.

• Свет от лампы распространяется равномерно по комнате.

  The light from the lamp diffuses evenly across the room.

• Он разносит информацию на встречах, чтобы все были в курсе.

  He diffuses information at meetings to keep everyone informed.

2. To make something less concentrated or intense (e.g., emotions or colors).

Translation(s) & Context:

• распространять - In metaphorical contexts, such as diffusing tension in a conversation.
• разносить - Less common here, but can imply spreading out intensity in informal narratives.

Usage Examples:

• Музыка помогает распространять напряжение в воздухе.

  Music helps diffuse the tension in the air.

• Ее улыбка разнесла страх среди собравшихся.

  Her smile diffused the fear among the gathered people.

• Этот фильтр распространяет свет, делая его мягче.

  This filter diffuses the light, making it softer.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs and follow typical Russian conjugation patterns for first-conjugation verbs. 'распространять' and 'разносить' are imperfective verbs, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions.

These verbs are regular but may have aspectual pairs (e.g., perfective forms like распространить for 'распространять'). They do not change in gender or number in the infinitive form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: распространять (similar in formal use), разносить (more casual), передавать (to transmit, with a slight nuance of direct transfer)
• Antonyms: собирать (to gather, opposite in the sense of concentrating), концентрировать (to concentrate, emphasizing focus rather than spread)

Related Phrases:

• Распространять информацию - To spread information; commonly used in media or educational contexts.
• Разносить новости - To diffuse news; informal for gossip or rapid sharing in social settings.
• Распространять свет - To diffuse light; literal in optics or metaphorical for enlightenment.

Usage Notes:

'распространять' is the more precise translation for 'diffuse' in formal or technical English contexts, as it implies a deliberate and wide-reaching spread. In contrast, 'разносить' is better for informal, everyday scenarios involving physical or social diffusion. Be mindful of aspect in Russian: use imperfective for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., распространить) for completed ones. English learners should note that Russian verbs often require agreement with subject gender and number, which can affect sentence structure.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing 'распространять' with 'распределить' (to distribute), leading to misuse in contexts of even spreading. Correct: Use 'распространять' for diffusion, as in "Я распространяю идею" (I am diffusing the idea), not "Я распределяю идею" which implies allocation.

• Error: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., saying "Он распространять" instead of "Он распространяет". Correct: Always conjugate based on subject, and explain that Russian verbs change more dynamically than English ones.

• Error: Overusing 'разносить' in formal writing, where 'распространять' is preferred. Correct: In professional emails, use 'распространять информацию' instead of 'разносить информацию' to maintain formality.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'распространять' often carry connotations of information dissemination in historical contexts, such as the spread of revolutionary ideas during the Soviet era. This can add a layer of political or social depth, where diffusing knowledge is seen as a tool for enlightenment or propaganda, reflecting Russia's emphasis on collective communication.

Related Concepts:

• передавать
• распространение
• концентрация