Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'retardant'

English Word: retardant

Key Russian Translations:

• замедлитель [zɐmʲɪˈdlʲitʲeɫ] - [Formal, Technical]
• огнестойкий [ɐɡnʲɪˈstojkʲɪj] - [Formal, Technical, Often used in fire-safety contexts]

Frequency: Medium (This term is commonly encountered in scientific, industrial, and technical discussions, but less so in everyday conversation.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires familiarity with technical vocabulary and basic Russian grammar, as the words involve noun and adjective forms. For 'замедлитель', it's B2 due to its noun inflection; for 'огнестойкий', it's similar but with adjective variations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

замедлитель: [zɐmʲɪˈdlʲitʲeɫ]

огнестойкий: [ɐɡnʲɪˈstojkʲɪj]

Note on замедлитель: The stress falls on the third syllable ('dlʲitʲeɫ'), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the soft consonants. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Note on огнестойкий: The 'ой' diphthong is pronounced as a smooth [oj], and the word has a hard stress on the third syllable. Regional accents in Russia might soften the 'г' sound.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A substance or material that slows down or delays a process, such as combustion or chemical reactions (e.g., fire retardant in safety contexts).

Translation(s) & Context:

• замедлитель - Used in scientific or industrial settings, such as chemistry or engineering, to describe agents that inhibit reactions.
• огнестойкий - Specifically applied in fire-safety and materials science, often as an adjective for flame-resistant materials.

Usage Examples:

• В производстве пластмасс часто добавляют замедлитель для предотвращения быстрого горения.

  In plastic manufacturing, a retardant is often added to prevent rapid burning.

• Этот огнестойкий материал используется в строительстве для повышения безопасности зданий.

  This fire-retardant material is used in construction to enhance building safety.

• Химики разработали новый замедлитель, который замедляет окисление в лабораторных условиях.

  Chemists have developed a new retardant that slows down oxidation in laboratory settings.

• Огнестойкий покрытие на одежде спасло жизнь пожарным во время тушения пожара.

  The fire-retardant coating on the clothing saved firefighters' lives during the fire extinguishing.

• Без замедлителя реакция могла бы произойти слишком быстро, вызывая опасные последствия.

  Without the retardant, the reaction could happen too quickly, leading to dangerous outcomes.

Meaning 2: More broadly, something that hinders progress or development (less common in technical English, but possible in metaphorical use).

Translation(s) & Context:

• замедлитель - In metaphorical or non-technical contexts, though rare; implies a delaying factor in processes.

Usage Examples:

• Бюрократия часто выступает как замедлитель в реализации инноваций.

  Bureaucracy often acts as a retardant in implementing innovations.

• В этом случае замедлитель проекта был вызван нехваткой финансирования.

  In this case, the retardant of the project was due to a lack of funding.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'замедлитель' (a masculine noun, 2nd declension):

This word follows standard Russian noun inflection patterns. It changes based on case and number. Below is a table of its declensions in singular form (plural is less common but follows regular patterns).

Note: The word is invariant in plural for most cases, e.g., 'замедлители' in nominative plural.

For 'огнестойкий' (an adjective):

This adjective agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. It has short and long forms, but the long form is most common. Example: Masculine singular - огнестойкий; Feminine singular - огнестойкая; Neuter singular - огнестойкое; Plural - огнестойкие. It does not have irregular inflections.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • ингибитор (inhibitor) - More precise in chemical contexts, with a similar delaying effect.
  • тормоз (brake) - Used metaphorically for something that slows progress, but less technical.
• Antonyms:
  • ускоритель (accelerator) - Refers to substances or factors that speed up processes.
  • катализатор (catalyst) - Enhances reactions rather than slowing them.

Related Phrases:

• огнестойкий материал - A fire-retardant material; Used in safety equipment and construction to describe non-flammable substances.
• химический замедлитель - Chemical retardant; Common in lab settings for controlling reactions.
• замедлитель горения - Retardant of combustion; A phrase in fire science indicating substances that delay burning.

Usage Notes:

In English, 'retardant' is often a technical term, and its Russian equivalents like 'замедлитель' or 'огнестойкий' should be chosen based on context. For instance, use 'замедлитель' for general slowing agents in chemistry, but 'огнестойкий' for fire-related applications. Be mindful of Russian's grammatical agreement: adjectives like 'огнестойкий' must match the noun's gender, number, and case. In formal writing, these words are neutral and widely applicable, but in spoken Russian, they might sound overly technical. When translating, avoid direct word-for-word substitution; instead, consider the specific process being delayed.

• Tip: If the context is metaphorical (e.g., social delays), 'замедлитель' can work, but it's less idiomatic than in technical English.
• Choice guidance: Opt for 'огнестойкий' in safety or material discussions, as it conveys fire-resistance more idiomatically.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse inflections or select the wrong word. For example:

• Error: Using 'замедлитель' without proper case agreement, e.g., saying "в замедлитель" instead of "в замедлителе" (correct: in the retardant). Explanation: Russian requires the prepositional case for locations or contexts, so always check the sentence structure.
• Error: Confusing 'огнестойкий' with 'огненный' (fiery), which means something related to fire rather than resistant to it. Correct usage: 'Огнестойкий' for resistance; e.g., Incorrect: "огненный материал" (implies flammable), Correct: "огнестойкий материал".
• Error: Overusing 'замедлитель' in non-technical contexts, where a more general word like 'тормоз' might fit better, leading to awkward phrasing.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and industry, terms like 'огнестойкий' gained prominence due to historical emphasis on safety in manufacturing and military applications during the Soviet era. For instance, fire-retardant materials were crucial in construction and aerospace, reflecting Russia's cold climate and industrial heritage. This underscores a cultural value on practicality and resilience in everyday innovations.

Related Concepts:

• ингибитор
• катализатор
• ускоритель