Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'insulator'

English Word: insulator

Key Russian Translations:

• изолятор [ɪzɐˈlʲatər] - [Formal, Technical]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical and scientific contexts, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with technical vocabulary and basic Russian noun declensions)

Pronunciation (Russian):

изолятор: [ɪzɐˈlʲatər]

Note on изолятор: The stress falls on the third syllable ("lʲa"), which is common in Russian borrowed words. Be mindful of the soft "лʲ" sound, which can be challenging for English speakers. Variations in pronunciation may occur based on regional accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: An object or material that prevents the passage of electricity, heat, or sound.

Translation(s) & Context:

• изолятор - Used in formal and technical contexts, such as electrical engineering or physics, to describe a material that blocks electrical current.

Usage Examples:

• В электрических цепях изолятор предотвращает короткое замыкание.

  In electrical circuits, the insulator prevents short circuits.

• Этот материал используется как изолятор для сохранения тепла в доме.

  This material is used as an insulator to retain heat in the house.

• Инженеры тестируют новый изолятор для высоковольтных линий.

  Engineers are testing a new insulator for high-voltage lines.

• В акустике изолятор помогает уменьшить шум в помещении.

  In acoustics, the insulator helps reduce noise in the room.

• Без надёжного изолятора батарея может перегреться.

  Without a reliable insulator, the battery can overheat.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Изолятор" is a masculine noun in Russian, belonging to the second declension. It follows regular patterns for most cases but may vary in plural forms. Below is a table outlining its key inflections:

Note: The word is invariant in gender and does not change for adjectives in standard usage, but always declines according to case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • изоляционный материал (izolyatsionnyy material) - More general term for insulating material, often used interchangeably in non-technical contexts.
  • диэлектрик (dielektrik) - Specifically for electrical insulators, with a focus on dielectric properties.
• Antonyms:
  • проводник (provodnik) - Refers to a conductor, which allows the passage of electricity or heat.
  • теплопроводник (teploprovodnik) - Specifically for heat conductors.

Related Phrases:

• электрический изолятор (elektricheskiy izolyator) - Electrical insulator; used in contexts involving wiring and circuits. (Refers to materials that prevent electrical flow.)
• теплоизолятор (teploizolyator) - Thermal insulator; common in construction for energy efficiency. (Describes materials that retain heat.)
• акустический изолятор (akusticheskiy izolyator) - Acoustic insulator; used in soundproofing. (Helps in reducing noise transmission.)

Usage Notes:

"Изолятор" directly corresponds to the English "insulator" in technical fields like engineering and physics. It is primarily a formal term, so avoid using it in casual conversations. When selecting between translations, choose "изолятор" for precise electrical contexts and "изоляционный материал" for broader material descriptions. Grammatically, always decline it according to Russian case rules to ensure sentence accuracy, e.g., in prepositional phrases like "в изоляторе" (in the insulator).

• In scientific writing, pair it with adjectives for specificity, such as "высоковольтный изолятор" (high-voltage insulator).
• Be aware of regional variations; in some contexts, it may borrow from English influences in modern Russian.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse "изолятор" by treating it as an indeclinable word, leading to incorrect sentences like "Я использую изолятор" instead of properly declining it in context. Correct usage: In the genitive case, it should be "изолятора" as in "цвет изолятора" (the color of the insulator). Another error is confusing it with "проводник," resulting in swapped meanings; for example, saying "изолятор проводит электричество" (the insulator conducts electricity) is wrong because insulators do not conduct. Instead, use: "Проводник проводит электричество, а изолятор — нет" (The conductor conducts electricity, but the insulator does not).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and industry, terms like "изолятор" gained prominence during the Soviet era in engineering and infrastructure development, such as in the construction of power lines. It symbolizes reliability in harsh climates, reflecting Russia's emphasis on durable materials for extreme weather conditions.

Related Concepts:

• конденсатор (kondensator)
• резистор (rezistor)
• проводимость (provodimost')