Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'elongate'

English Word: elongate

Key Russian Translations:

• удлинять /ud.liˈnʲatʲ/ - [Verb, Formal, Used in scientific or technical contexts]
• растягивать /ras.tiˈɡva.tʲ/ - [Verb, Informal, Plural forms possible, Used in everyday descriptions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical, scientific, and descriptive language, but not in casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate for learners; requires understanding of verb conjugations and aspect differences. For "удлинять": B2; for "растягивать": B1)

Pronunciation (Russian):

удлинять: /ud.liˈnʲatʲ/ (Note on удлинять: The stress is on the second syllable; the soft sign 'ь' affects the preceding consonant, making it palatalized, which is a common challenge for English speakers.)

растягивать: /ras.tiˈɡva.tʲ/ (Note on растягивать: Pay attention to the 'г' sound, which is guttural; variations in speed can alter emphasis in spoken Russian.)

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To make something longer or extend it in length (e.g., in a physical or metaphorical sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• удлинять - Used in formal or technical contexts, such as engineering or biology, to describe extending objects or processes.
• растягивать - Used in informal settings for everyday stretching or elongation, like fabric or time.

Usage Examples:

• Инженеры удлиняют мост, чтобы он мог выдерживать большее количество транспорта.

  Engineers are elongating the bridge to handle more traffic.

• В эксперименте мы растягиваем материал, чтобы проверить его эластичность.

  In the experiment, we are elongating the material to test its elasticity.

• Художник удлиняет фигуры в картине, создавая ощущение движения.

  The artist elongates the figures in the painting to create a sense of motion.

• Дети любят растягивать резинку, чтобы увидеть, как она возвращается в исходное положение.

  Children love elongating the rubber band to see how it snaps back.

Meaning 2: To prolong or extend something in time or duration

Translation(s) & Context:

• удлинять - Applied to formal extensions, like deadlines or contracts.
• растягивать - More casual, for everyday time management, like stretching a conversation.

Usage Examples:

• Компания решила удлинить срок гарантии на продукт для повышения удовлетворенности клиентов.

  The company decided to elongate the warranty period on the product to increase customer satisfaction.

• Он всегда растягивает обед, чтобы провести больше времени с семьей.

  He always elongates lunch to spend more time with his family.

• Врач удлиняет консультацию, если пациент нуждается в дополнительных объяснениях.

  The doctor elongates the consultation if the patient needs further explanations.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "удлинять" and "растягивать" are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs change based on tense, aspect, person, number, and gender. "Удлинять" is more regular, while "растягивать" follows standard patterns.

Note: These verbs do not change irregularly, but aspect pairs exist (e.g., perfective "удлинить" for "удлинять").

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • протягивать (Similar to удлинять, but often implies reaching out; used in spatial contexts)
  • пролонгировать (More formal synonym for extending time, e.g., contracts)
• Antonyms:
  • сократить (To shorten or reduce)
  • сжать (To compress or contract)

Related Phrases:

• удлинять срок - To extend a deadline or period (e.g., in business contexts)
• растягивать время - To drag out time or procrastinate (Informal usage, often with a negative connotation)
• удлинить форму - To elongate a shape (Common in art or design)

Usage Notes:

The English word "elongate" corresponds most closely to "удлинять" in formal or technical Russian, while "растягивать" is better for informal, physical stretching. Be mindful of aspect: use imperfective forms like these for ongoing actions, and switch to perfective (e.g., "удлинить") for completed ones. In spoken Russian, "растягивать" might imply flexibility, whereas "удлинять" suggests precise extension. Choose based on context to avoid awkward phrasing.

Common Errors:

• Error: Confusing "удлинять" with "удлинить" and using the perfective form incorrectly in ongoing contexts. Incorrect: "Я удлинить мост" (implies a completed action). Correct: "Я удлиняю мост" (for an ongoing process). Explanation: Russian verbs have aspects; always match to the action's completeness.
• Error: Overusing "растягивать" in formal writing, where "удлинять" is more appropriate. Incorrect: "В эксперименте растягивать образец" (too casual). Correct: "В эксперименте удлинять образец". Explanation: Context dictates formality to maintain professional tone.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "удлинять" often appear in scientific and artistic contexts, reflecting Russia's emphasis on engineering and literature. For instance, in classic Russian literature, elongation might symbolize emotional extension, as seen in works by Tolstoy, where time is "stretched" to explore human experiences.

Related Concepts:

• длина (length)
• эластичность (elasticity)
• протяжение (extension or reach)