Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'meander'

English Word: meander

Key Russian Translations:

• меандр [mʲɪˈandr] - [Formal, Noun, Typically used in geographical or scientific contexts]
• извиваться [ɪzʲvʲɪˈvat͡sə] - [Formal, Verb, Often used to describe winding paths or movements]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday conversation; more prevalent in academic, geographical, or descriptive literature.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of Russian noun and verb inflections, as per CEFR standards. For 'меандр', it's straightforward for nouns; for 'извиваться', verb conjugation adds moderate complexity.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

меандр: [mʲɪˈandr]

Note on меандр: The stress falls on the second syllable; be mindful of the palatalized 'м' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers.

извиваться: [ɪzʲvʲɪˈvat͡sə]

Note on извиваться: This is a reflexive verb; the ending '-ся' indicates reflexivity, and pronunciation varies slightly in different forms, such as [ɪzʲvʲɪˈvaet͡sə] in third person singular.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A winding curve or bend in a river or path (Noun form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• меандр - Used in formal or scientific descriptions of geography, such as in maps or environmental discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Река Волга образует множество меандров в своей нижней части.

  The Volga River forms many meanders in its lower section.

• Геологи изучили меандр, чтобы понять эрозию почвы.

  Geologists studied the meander to understand soil erosion.

• Этот меандр реки делает пейзаж особенно живописным.

  This meander of the river makes the landscape particularly picturesque.

• В ходе экскурсии мы увидели древний меандр, сформированный тысячелетия назад.

  During the excursion, we saw an ancient meander formed millennia ago.

Meaning 2: To follow a winding course or wander aimlessly (Verb form)

Translation(s) & Context:

• извиваться - Applied in contexts describing movement, paths, or abstract flows, such as in literature or travel descriptions; often implies a natural, serpentine motion.

Usage Examples:

• Дорога извивается через горы, предлагая великолепные виды.

  The road meanders through the mountains, offering magnificent views.

• Ручей извивается по долине, создавая идеальное место для пикника.

  The stream meanders through the valley, creating an ideal spot for a picnic.

• Её мысли извиваются, как змея, в поисках решения проблемы.

  Her thoughts meander like a snake in search of a solution to the problem.

• Путник решил извиваться по лесным тропинкам, чтобы избежать главной дороги.

  The traveler decided to meander along the forest paths to avoid the main road.

• Ветер заставляет реку извиваться сильнее во время шторма.

  The wind makes the river meander more intensely during a storm.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'меандр' (a masculine noun of the second declension), it follows standard Russian noun patterns with regular inflections:

For 'извиваться' (a reflexive verb of the first conjugation), it is irregular in its infinitive form but follows standard patterns for conjugation:

Note: As a reflexive verb, it always ends with '-ся' or '-сь' in conjugated forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • изгиб (izgib) - A bend or curve, often used interchangeably with 'меандр' in non-technical contexts.
  • петлять (petlyat') - To wind or zigzag, similar to 'извиваться' but implies more abrupt turns.
• Antonyms:
  • прямой (pryamoy) - Straight, as opposed to winding paths.
  • стремиться (stremit'sya) - To rush or flow straight, contrasting with meandering movement.

Related Phrases:

• Извилистый путь (Izvilistyy put') - Winding path; used to describe a meandering route in travel or metaphorically in life.
• Меандр реки (Meandr reki) - River meander; a common phrase in geographical descriptions, meaning a bend in a river.
• Извиваться змейкой (Izvivatsya zmeykoy) - To meander like a snake; an idiomatic expression for serpentine movement.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'меандр' directly corresponds to the geological sense of 'meander' and is rarely used outside formal contexts, while 'извиваться' captures the verb form but emphasizes a more fluid, natural motion. English speakers should note that Russian verbs like 'извиваться' require agreement with subject gender and number in past tense. When choosing between translations, opt for 'меандр' in scientific writing and 'извиваться' for descriptive narratives. Be cautious with reflexive verbs, as they often imply an internal or self-directed action.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Forgetting the reflexive ending '-ся' in 'извиваться', e.g., saying "извивать" instead, which is incorrect as it loses the reflexive meaning. Correct: Use "извивается" for third person. Explanation: Russian reflexive verbs must include '-ся' to convey the intended action.
• Mistake: Incorrectly inflecting 'меандр', such as using the wrong case, e.g., "в меандр" instead of "в меандре" for prepositional case. Correct: "В меандре реки" (In the river meander). Explanation: Proper case usage is essential for grammatical accuracy in Russian sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, the concept of meandering paths or rivers often symbolizes life's unpredictability or the beauty of nature, as seen in literature like Tolstoy's works. For instance, 'извиваться' might evoke images of Russia's vast, winding rivers, reflecting a national appreciation for expansive landscapes and their historical significance in exploration and folklore.

Related Concepts:

• изгиб
• река
• петля