Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'glasslike'

English Word: glasslike

Key Russian Translations:

• стеклянный [ˈstʲɪklənːɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Singular]
• стеклоподобный [stʲɪkləpəˈdobnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Technical, used in scientific contexts]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in everyday descriptions of materials, but not as frequent as basic adjectives like "прозрачный")

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian adjective declensions, suitable for learners with basic grammar knowledge)

Pronunciation (Russian):

стеклянный: [ˈstʲɪklənːɨj]

стеклоподобный: [stʲɪkləpəˈdobnɨj]

Note on стеклянный: The stress falls on the first syllable; be careful with the palatalized 'т' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in informal speech may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Resembling glass in appearance, transparency, or fragility (e.g., smooth, clear, or brittle qualities).

Translation(s) & Context:

• стеклянный - Used in formal or descriptive contexts for objects that mimic glass properties, such as in literature or material descriptions.
• стеклоподобный - Applied in technical or scientific contexts, like describing synthetic materials in chemistry or engineering.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Это стеклянное украшение выглядит очень хрупким. (Eto steklyannoe ukrasheniye vyglyadit ochen' khrupkim.)

  English: This glasslike ornament looks very fragile.

• Русский пример: Учёные создали стеклоподобный материал для новых экранов. (Uchenyye sozdali steklopodobnyy material dlya novykh ekranov.)

  English: Scientists created a glasslike material for new screens.

• Русский пример: Вода в озере была стеклянной, как будто замерзла. (Voda v ozero byla steklyannoy, kak budto zamerzla.)

  English: The water in the lake was glasslike, as if it had frozen.

• Русский пример: Её глаза были стеклянными от удивления. (Yeyo glaza byli steklyannymi ot udivleniya.)

  English: Her eyes were glasslike with surprise. (Note: Metaphorical usage in emotional descriptions.)

• Русский пример: Этот полимер имеет стеклоподобные свойства, делая его идеальным для оптических приборов. (Etot polimer imeet steklopodobnyye svoystva, delaya yego ideal'nym dlya opticheskikh priborov.)

  English: This polymer has glasslike properties, making it ideal for optical devices.

Meaning 2: Figurative use, implying something artificial or unnaturally smooth (e.g., in expressions of emotion or appearance).

Translation(s) & Context:

• стеклянный - Informal or literary contexts, such as describing expressions or surfaces.

Usage Examples:

• Русский пример: Его улыбка была стеклянной, без настоящих эмоций. (Yego ulibka byla steklyannoy, bez nastoyashchikh emotsiy.)

  English: His smile was glasslike, without genuine emotions.

• Русский пример: Поверхность камня имела стеклянный блеск после полировки. (Poverkhnost' kamnya imela steklyannyy blesk posle polirovki.)

  English: The stone's surface had a glasslike sheen after polishing.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are adjectives and follow standard Russian adjective declension patterns. "стеклянный" is a regular adjective, while "стеклоподобный" is also regular but less common. Adjectives in Russian change based on gender, number, and case.

Note: These adjectives do not have irregular forms, making them straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • прозрачный (prozrachnyy) - More general for transparency, often interchangeable in casual contexts.
  • хрустальный (khrustalnyy) - Implies a crystal-like quality, with a slight connotation of luxury.
• Antonyms:
  • непрозрачный (neprozrachnyy) - Lacks transparency.
  • матовый (matovyy) - Matte or dull finish.

Related Phrases:

• стеклянный глаз (steklyannyy glaz) - Meaning: A glass eye (prosthetic); used in medical or metaphorical contexts.
• стеклянный потолок (steklyannyy potolok) - Meaning: Glass ceiling (metaphor for invisible barriers in career advancement).
• стеклоподобный эффект (steklopodobnyy effekt) - Meaning: Glasslike effect; common in descriptions of photography or design.

Usage Notes:

"стеклянный" directly corresponds to "glasslike" in physical descriptions but can extend to metaphorical uses, similar to English. It's more common in formal writing or speech; for everyday conversation, "прозрачный" might be preferred if transparency is the focus. When choosing between "стеклянный" and "стеклоподобный," opt for the latter in technical fields to avoid sounding overly literary. Always decline the adjective according to the noun's gender, number, and case for grammatical accuracy.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "стеклянный" without proper declension, e.g., saying "стеклянный окно" instead of "стеклянное окно" for a neuter noun like "окно."

  Correct: стеклянное окно. Explanation: Russian adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, so beginners often forget this, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Confusing "стеклянный" with "стеклянный" variants in compounds, e.g., incorrectly forming "стекляный" as a shortcut.

  Correct: Always use the full form. Explanation: This misspelling doesn't exist; it might stem from English influence, where compound words are more flexible.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "стеклянный" can evoke imagery from folk tales or literature, such as in stories where glass symbolizes fragility or illusion (e.g., in works by Pushkin). The "glass ceiling" phrase has been adopted in Russian discourse to discuss gender inequality, reflecting global influences on modern language.

Related Concepts:

• хрустальный
• прозрачный
• блестящий