Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Dilate'

English Word: dilate

Key Russian Translations:

• расширять [rɐʂˈɨrʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, General Use]
• расширяться [rɐʂˈɨrʲɪtʲsʲə] - [Formal, Reflexive, Often Intransitive]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

расширять: [rɐʂˈɨrʲɪtʲ]

Note on расширять: Stress falls on the second syllable. The 'ш' sound is a retroflex fricative, which might be challenging for English speakers.

расширяться: [rɐʂˈɨrʲɪtʲsʲə]

Note on расширяться: Similar to 'расширять', with an added reflexive suffix '-ся'. Stress remains on the second syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To expand or make larger (physical or metaphorical)

Translation(s) & Context:

• расширять - Used when actively expanding something, e.g., widening a road or broadening knowledge.
• расширяться - Used for something expanding on its own, often intransitive, e.g., pupils dilating.

Usage Examples:

• Мы должны расширять наши горизонты.

  We must broaden our horizons.

• Город продолжает расширяться с каждым годом.

  The city continues to expand every year.

• Зрачки расширяются в темноте.

  Pupils dilate in the dark.

• Компания расширяет своё присутствие на рынке.

  The company is expanding its presence in the market.

• Этот проект поможет расширять наши знания.

  This project will help us broaden our knowledge.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

расширять (Imperfective Verb): Regular verb of the first conjugation. It denotes an ongoing or incomplete action.

расширяться (Imperfective Reflexive Verb): Similar conjugation to 'расширять' with the reflexive suffix '-ся' added.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for расширять/расширяться:

• увеличивать (to increase)
• развивать (to develop)

Note: 'увеличивать' often implies a numerical increase, while 'развивать' is more about development or growth.

Antonyms:

• сужать (to narrow)
• уменьшать (to reduce)

Related Phrases:

• расширять кругозор - to broaden one's horizons (knowledge or perspective).
• расширять возможности - to expand opportunities (often in a professional context).
• расширяться в размерах - to grow in size (often used for physical objects or territories).

Usage Notes:

• 'расширять' is typically used when the subject is actively causing the expansion (transitive), while 'расширяться' often implies a passive or reflexive process (intransitive).
• These verbs are imperfective, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. For completed actions, perfective forms like 'расширить' (for 'расширять') are used.
• In medical contexts, such as pupils dilating, 'расширяться' is the preferred choice.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'расширять' in an intransitive context, e.g., *Зрачки расширяют* (incorrect).
• Correction: Use 'расширяться' for intransitive actions, e.g., Зрачки расширяются (correct). Explanation: 'расширять' requires an object, while 'расширяться' does not.
• Error: Misplacing stress when conjugating, e.g., *расширЯю* (incorrect).
• Correction: Stress is on the second syllable: расширяю (correct). Explanation: Stress patterns are crucial in Russian and can change meaning.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian, the concept of "expansion" (расширение) often carries a positive connotation, especially in contexts like education or personal growth (e.g., расширять кругозор - to broaden horizons). However, in political or territorial contexts, it might evoke historical associations with Soviet expansionism, so context matters.

Related Concepts:

• увеличение (increase)
• рост (growth)
• развитие (development)