Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'meteoric'

English Word: meteoric

Key Russian Translations:

• метеорный [mʲɪˈtʲe.ɐr.nɨj] - [Formal, used in scientific or astronomical contexts]
• стремительный [strʲɪˈmʲi.tʲɪlʲ.nɨj] - [Figurative, informal, often for rapid career rises]
• молниеносный [mɐlʲ.nʲɪˈjo.snɨj] - [Informal, plural contexts, emphasizing sudden and brief events]

Frequency: Medium - The word and its translations are not everyday vocabulary but appear frequently in scientific literature, news, and metaphorical discussions.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate level, as it involves understanding contextual nuances and scientific terminology; for figurative uses like "стремительный," it may vary to A2 for basic learners.

Pronunciation (Russian):

метеорный: [mʲɪˈtʲe.ɐr.nɨj]

стремительный: [strʲɪˈmʲi.tʲɪlʲ.nɨj]

молниеносный: [mɐlʲ.nʲɪˈjo.snɨj]

Note on метеорный: The stress falls on the third syllable; be cautious with the soft 'тʲ' sound, which is a common challenge for English speakers. Variations in informal speech may soften the ending.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Astronomical Meaning (Relating to meteors or celestial phenomena)

Translation(s) & Context:

• метеорный - Used in formal scientific discussions, such as describing meteor showers or impacts.

Usage Examples:

• В небе мелькнул метеорный след, освещая ночное небо. (In the sky, a meteoric trail flashed, illuminating the night sky.)

  English: "A meteoric trail flashed in the sky, illuminating the night sky."

• Ученые изучают метеорные потоки для понимания космических процессов. (Scientists study meteoric streams to understand cosmic processes.)

  English: "Scientists study meteoric streams to understand cosmic processes."

• Метеорный дождь в августе всегда привлекает астрономов. (The meteoric shower in August always attracts astronomers.)

  English: "The meteoric shower in August always attracts astronomers."

• Этот метеорный феномен был запечатлен на видео. (This meteoric phenomenon was captured on video.)

  English: "This meteoric phenomenon was captured on video."

• Метеорный удар мог изменить климат Земли. (A meteoric impact could have changed Earth's climate.)

  English: "A meteoric impact could have changed Earth's climate."

Figurative Meaning (Sudden, rapid, and brief rise or success)

Translation(s) & Context:

• стремительный - Applied in everyday contexts like career advancements or events that happen quickly.
• молниеносный - Used for emphasizing speed and brevity, often in informal or narrative settings.

Usage Examples:

• Его карьера была стремительной, как метеорный полет. (His career was as meteoric as a meteor's flight.)

  English: "His career was as meteoric as a meteor's flight."

• Компания пережила молниеносный рост на рынке. (The company experienced a meteoric growth in the market.)

  English: "The company experienced a meteoric growth in the market."

• Стремительный успех актера удивил всех в индустрии. (The meteoric success of the actor surprised everyone in the industry.)

  English: "The meteoric success of the actor surprised everyone in the industry."

• Молниеносный спад популярности следовал за ее метеорным взлетом. (The meteoric decline in popularity followed her rapid rise.)

  English: "The meteoric decline in popularity followed her rapid rise."

• В бизнесе стремительный прогресс часто бывает недолгим. (In business, meteoric progress is often short-lived.)

  English: "In business, meteoric progress is often short-lived."

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. For example, "метеорный" follows the standard first-declension adjective pattern with irregularities in some forms.

For "стремительный" and "молниеносный," they follow similar patterns but are more regular. These adjectives do not change in invariable contexts like predicates.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • метеорный: космический (kosmicheskiy) - More general for space-related terms.
  • стремительный: быстрый (bystriy) - Emphasizes speed without the meteoric connotation.
  • молниеносный: мгновенный (mgnovennyy) - Highlights instantaneous action; subtle difference in duration.
• Antonyms:
  • метеорный: стабильный (stabilnyy) - Indicates steady, unchanging phenomena.
  • стремительный: медленный (medlennyy) - Contrasts with rapid pace.
  • молниеносный: затяжной (zatyazhnyy) - Suggests prolonged or drawn-out events.

Related Phrases:

• Метеорный дождь - A meteoric shower; commonly used in astronomy to describe annual events.
• Стремительный взлет - Meteoric rise; refers to sudden success in careers or businesses.
• Молниеносный успех - Flash of success; implies quick but fleeting achievements, often in informal contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Meteoric" translates variably in Russian based on context: use "метеорный" for literal astronomical references and "стремительный" or "молниеносный" for figurative ones. Be mindful of formality—opt for "метеорный" in academic writing and "стремительный" in everyday conversation. Grammatically, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which is a key difference from English. When choosing between translations, consider the emphasis: "молниеносный" highlights brevity more than "стремительный."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "метеорный" in figurative contexts without adaptation, e.g., saying "метеорный карьера" instead of "стремительная карьера." Correct: Ensure the adjective agrees with the noun (e.g., "стремительная карьера" for feminine noun). Explanation: Russian requires gender agreement, which English speakers often overlook, leading to grammatical errors.

• Error: Mispronouncing the soft consonants in "метеорный," making it sound like "meteornyy" without the palatalization. Correct: Practice [mʲɪˈtʲe.ɐr.nɨj] to capture the Russian phonetics. Explanation: This can make the word unintelligible to native speakers, as soft sounds are integral to Russian pronunciation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like "метеорный" often evoke fascination with space exploration, influenced by Russia's history in astronomy (e.g., Sputnik). Figuratively, "стремительный" in contexts like career success reflects the cultural value of rapid achievement in a competitive society, but it also carries a warning of impermanence, as seen in Russian literature where meteoric rises often lead to falls.

Related Concepts:

• комета (comet)
• космический (cosmic)
• взлет и падение (rise and fall)
• ускорение (acceleration)