Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'macerate'

English Word: macerate

Key Russian Translations:

• мацерировать [mət͡sɪrəˈvatʲ] - [Formal, Scientific context]
• размочить [rəzmɐˈt͡ɕitʲ] - [Informal, Culinary or everyday use]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are specialized, primarily used in scientific, medical, or culinary contexts, not in daily conversation.)

Difficulty: Advanced (C1 level for мацерировать, as it involves technical vocabulary; B2 for размочить, which is more accessible but still requires understanding of verb conjugations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

мацерировать: [mət͡sɪrəˈvatʲ]

размочить: [rəzmɐˈt͡ɕitʲ]

Note on мацерировать: The stress falls on the third syllable ("va-"), which can be tricky for learners due to the soft 'т͡с' consonant cluster; pronounce it with a clear separation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To soften or break up a substance by soaking it in a liquid (e.g., in chemistry or cooking).

Translation(s) & Context:

• мацерировать - Used in formal, scientific contexts, such as in laboratories or pharmacology, where precision is key.
• размочить - Used in informal, everyday contexts, like preparing food or simple home remedies.

Usage Examples:

• В лаборатории мы мацерируем травы в спирте для извлечения полезных веществ.

  In the laboratory, we macerate herbs in alcohol to extract beneficial substances.

• Чтобы размочить сухие фрукты, оставьте их в воде на ночь.

  To macerate dried fruits, leave them in water overnight.

• Химики мацерируют образцы, чтобы ускорить реакцию.

  Chemists macerate samples to speed up the reaction.

• Размочите хлеб в молоке перед добавлением в суп.

  Macerate the bread in milk before adding it to the soup.

• Для этого рецепта нужно мацерировать специи в вине несколько часов.

  For this recipe, you need to macerate the spices in wine for several hours.

Meaning 2: The result of soaking, as a noun (e.g., a softened substance).

Translation(s) & Context:

• мацерат - Refers to the product after maceration, often in scientific or medical contexts.
• размоченный продукт - A more general term for everyday use.

Usage Examples:

• Мацерат из трав используется в народной медицине для лечения.

  The macerate of herbs is used in folk medicine for treatment.

• После размоченного продукта суп становится более нежным.

  After the macerated product, the soup becomes more tender.

• В аптеке продают готовый мацерат для косметических целей.

  In the pharmacy, they sell ready-made macerate for cosmetic purposes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both translations are verbs, so they follow standard Russian verb conjugation patterns. мацерировать is a first-conjugation verb (ending in -овать), while размочить is irregular in some forms. Below is a table for мацерировать in present tense as an example:

For размочить (perfective aspect), it has variations: Present: не имеет (it's imperfective as размягчать, but perfective as размочить). It remains relatively regular but changes in past tense (e.g., размочил, размочена). If the word is used as a noun like мацерат, it is an inanimate masculine noun with standard declension (e.g., мацерата, мацерату).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • экстрагировать (extract) - Similar in scientific contexts, but focuses on extraction.
  • размягчить (soften) - More general, used in everyday language.
• Antonyms:
  • соседить (dry out) - Opposite process, used when removing moisture.
  • закалить (harden) - In a metaphorical or material sense.

Related Phrases:

• Мацерировать в алкоголе - Macerate in alcohol; used for extracting flavors in cooking or medicine.
• Размочить в воде - Soak in water; common in recipes for rehydrating ingredients.
• Готовый мацерат для чая - Ready-made macerate for tea; refers to infused herbal preparations.

Usage Notes:

мацерировать is a direct cognate of the English "macerate" and is best used in formal or technical settings, such as chemistry or pharmacology, where precision is required. In contrast, размочить is more versatile for everyday contexts like cooking. English speakers should note that Russian verbs often require aspect (perfective vs. imperfective), so pair мацерировать with its imperfective form if needed. When choosing between translations, opt for мацерировать in professional writing and размочить in casual speech to match the appropriate register.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using мацерировать in informal contexts, e.g., saying "Я мацерирую фрукты" instead of "Я размочу фрукты." This sounds overly formal and out of place.

  Correct: Я размочу фрукты в воде. (I will macerate the fruits in water.) Explanation: Reserve мацерировать for technical uses to avoid sounding pretentious.

• Error: Forgetting verb aspects, e.g., using мацерировать without specifying if it's ongoing or completed. Explanation: In Russian, say "я мацерирую" for ongoing action, but use perfective forms like "я размочу" for completed tasks.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, maceration techniques are deeply rooted in traditional medicine and cuisine. For instance, herbal macerates (настои) are common in folk remedies, reflecting a historical reliance on natural healing methods from Slavic traditions. This contrasts with English usage, where "macerate" is more clinical, highlighting how language reflects cultural practices in health and food preparation.

Related Concepts:

• экстракт (extract)
• настой (infusion)
• заваривание (brewing)