Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'osmosis'

English Word: osmosis

Key Russian Translations:

• осмос [ˈɔzmɔs] - [Formal, Scientific context]

Frequency: Medium (commonly encountered in scientific literature, biology, and chemistry texts, but less frequent in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires basic understanding of scientific concepts and vocabulary, suitable for learners with some exposure to technical Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

осмос: [ˈɔzmɔs]

Note on осмос: The stress falls on the first syllable, which is common for borrowed scientific terms. Pronounce the 'o' as in "off" and the 's' as a soft, unvoiced sound. Variations may occur in regional accents.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: The process by which molecules of a solvent pass through a semi-permeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one, often used in biology, chemistry, and everyday contexts for gradual absorption.

Translation(s) & Context:

• осмос - Used in formal scientific or educational contexts, such as biology textbooks or discussions about cell membranes.

Usage Examples:

• В процессе осмоса вода проходит через клеточную мембрану.

  In the process of osmosis, water passes through the cell membrane.

• Осмос играет ключевую роль в транспортировке питательных веществ в растениях.

  Osmosis plays a key role in the transportation of nutrients in plants.

• Учёные изучают осмос для улучшения методов очистки воды.

  Scientists study osmosis to improve water purification methods.

• В повседневной жизни осмос объясняет, почему овощи впитывают воду в солёном растворе.

  In everyday life, osmosis explains why vegetables absorb water in a salty solution.

• Процесс осмоса можно наблюдать в лабораторных экспериментах с растворимыми веществами.

  The process of osmosis can be observed in laboratory experiments with soluble substances.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"Осмос" is a masculine noun (мужской род) borrowed from English/Greek, belonging to the second declension. It follows regular patterns for Russian nouns but is often used in its base form due to its technical nature. Below is a table of its inflections:

Note: The plural forms are less common, as "осмос" is typically used in singular contexts in scientific discussions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • диффузия (diffusion; used for similar processes but broader in scope, often interchangeable in non-technical contexts)
  • просачивание (seeping; implies a slower, more gradual movement)
• Antonyms:
  • концентрация (concentration; refers to the opposite process of gathering or intensifying)

Related Phrases:

• процесс осмоса - The process of osmosis; used in educational or scientific explanations.
• осмотический давление - Osmotic pressure; refers to the pressure exerted by osmosis in solutions.
• обратный осмос - Reverse osmosis; a common term in water filtration technology, with implications in everyday applications like drinking water purification.

Usage Notes:

"Осмос" is a direct loanword from English/Greek origins and is primarily used in formal, scientific, or technical contexts in Russian. It corresponds closely to the English "osmosis" in biology and chemistry, but English learners should note that it's not commonly used in casual conversation. When choosing between translations, "осмос" is the most precise; avoid synonyms like "диффузия" if the exact process is meant. Grammatically, it functions as a masculine noun and requires appropriate agreement in gender, number, and case. In scientific writing, it's often unmodified, but in complex sentences, ensure correct declension as shown in the inflections table.

Common Errors:

• Error: Mispronouncing as [ɔz'mɔs] with stress on the second syllable. Correct: [ˈɔzmɔs] with stress on the first. Explanation: Russian stress patterns for borrowed words often follow the original, but learners from English backgrounds may default to English pronunciation, leading to confusion in listening comprehension.

• Error: Confusing "осмос" with "диффузия" and using them interchangeably. Correct: Use "осмос" specifically for solvent movement through membranes. Wrong example: "Диффузия воды через мембрану" (when osmosis is intended). Explanation: This can alter the meaning in scientific contexts, where precision is crucial.

• Error: Incorrect declension, e.g., using "осмос" in genitive as "осмос" instead of "осмоса". Correct: "Процесс осмоса" (The process of osmosis). Explanation: Failing to decline properly can make sentences grammatically incorrect in Russian, which is highly inflected.

Cultural Notes:

While "осмос" itself is a neutral scientific term without strong cultural connotations, it reflects Russia's emphasis on STEM education and research. In Russian scientific literature, osmosis is often discussed in the context of environmental science or agriculture, highlighting practical applications like water desalination, which ties into broader themes of resource management in Russian history and geography.

Related Concepts:

• диффузия
• мембрана
• раствор
• транспортировка