Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'plumb'

English Word: plumb

Key Russian Translations:

• свинец [ˈsvʲinʲɛts] - [Noun, Formal, Singular]
• отвес [ɐtˈvʲes] - [Noun, Informal, Used in technical or construction contexts]
• вертикальный [vʲɪrˈtʲikəlʲnɨj] - [Adjective, Formal, Plural form: вертикальные]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in scientific, construction, and everyday contexts, but not as frequent as basic vocabulary).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of basic noun declensions and technical terminology for learners at this CEFR level. For 'вертикальный', it may be A2 if only basic adjectives are considered).

Pronunciation (Russian):

свинец: [ˈsvʲinʲɛts]

отвес: [ɐtˈvʲes]

вертикальный: [vʲɪrˈtʲikəlʲnɨj]

Note on свинец: The stress is on the first syllable; be careful with the palatalized 's' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: As a noun referring to the metal lead.

Translation(s) & Context:

• свинец - Used in scientific or material contexts, such as describing elements in chemistry or construction materials.

Usage Examples:

• Свинец используется в аккумуляторах для предотвращения коррозии.

  Lead is used in batteries to prevent corrosion.

• В древние времена свинец применяли для изготовления посуды.

  In ancient times, lead was used to make dishes.

• Избыток свинца в воде может быть опасным для здоровья.

  An excess of lead in water can be dangerous to health.

• Свинец имеет высокую плотность, что делает его идеальным для балласта.

  Lead has a high density, making it ideal for ballast.

Meaning 2: As a verb or tool for measuring vertical alignment.

Translation(s) & Context:

• отвес - Used in construction or engineering to ensure something is straight or vertical.
• вертикальный - Applied when describing alignment in a more general or adjective form.

Usage Examples:

• Строители используют отвес, чтобы проверить, вертикально ли стоит стена.

  Builders use a plumb to check if the wall is standing vertically.

• Для точного отвеса здания инженеры применяют лазерные инструменты.

  For precise plumbing of buildings, engineers use laser tools.

• Эта конструкция должна быть вертикальной, иначе она обвалится.

  This structure needs to be plumb, or it will collapse.

• В архитектуре отвес помогает обеспечить стабильность сооружений.

  In architecture, a plumb helps ensure the stability of structures.

• Мастер проверил отвесом прямолинейность колонны.

  The master checked the straightness of the column with a plumb.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'свинец' (a masculine noun in the third declension), it follows standard Russian noun patterns with irregularities in some cases:

For 'отвес' (also masculine), it has similar declensions but is less commonly inflected in modern usage. For 'вертикальный' (adjective), it changes by gender, number, and case, e.g., вертикального (genitive singular masculine), вертикальные (nominative plural).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • свинец: олово (olovo) - Similar in some industrial contexts, but less dense.
  • отвес: уровень (uroven') - Used for leveling, with a slight difference in precision.
  • вертикальный: прямой (pryamoy) - More general for straightness, not specifically vertical.
• Antonyms:
  • свинец: None direct, but in material contexts, perhaps алюминий (aluminij) for a lighter alternative.
  • отвес: наклонный (naklonnyj) - Implies something is tilted or not vertical.
  • вертикальный: горизонтальный (gorizontal'nyj) - Directly opposite, meaning horizontal.

Related Phrases:

• Свинцовый аккумулятор - A lead-acid battery; commonly used in automotive contexts.
• Проверить отвесом - To check with a plumb; essential in construction for alignment.
• Вертикальная ось - The vertical axis; used in mathematics or graphics.

Usage Notes:

'Свинец' directly corresponds to the English 'plumb' as a noun for the metal, but in Russian, it's more commonly associated with industrial or health-related discussions. Use 'отвес' for the tool or action of plumbing in construction, which is more precise than a general translation. Be mindful of context: 'вертикальный' is an adjective and should agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. For English learners, choose 'свинец' in scientific texts and 'отвес' in practical scenarios to avoid overgeneralization.

• In formal writing, prefer full forms over abbreviations.
• When selecting between translations, consider the domain: e.g., chemistry for 'свинец' vs. engineering for 'отвес'.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'свинец' with 'свинья' (pig), due to similar pronunciation of the first syllable. Incorrect: "Я имею в виду свинья" (meaning lead but saying pig). Correct: "Я имею в виду свинец". This error stems from not distinguishing palatalization. Another common mistake is improper declension, e.g., using nominative in all cases: Incorrect: "без свинец" (should be "без свинца" in genitive).

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'свинец' (lead) has historical connotations in traditional medicine and alchemy, where it was seen as a base metal in alchemical processes, symbolizing transformation. This ties into broader Slavic folklore where metals like lead were used in protective amulets, reflecting a cultural emphasis on practicality and superstition in everyday tools.

Related Concepts:

• алюминий (aluminij)
• уровень (uroven')
• прямолинейный (pryamolinejnyj)