Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'triturate'

English Word: triturate

Key Russian Translations:

• измельчать [ɪzˈmʲelʲ.t͡ɕætʲ] - [Formal, used in technical or scientific contexts]
• растирать [rɐˈstʲirətʲ] - [Informal, everyday language, often for manual grinding]

Frequency: Low (This term is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; it's more prevalent in scientific, pharmaceutical, or industrial contexts.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding verb conjugations and technical vocabulary; for 'измельчать', it's B2, while 'растирать' might be A2 for basic forms.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

измельчать: [ɪzˈmʲelʲ.t͡ɕætʲ]

растирать: [rɐˈstʲirətʲ]

Note on измельчать: The soft sign (ь) in 'измельчать' affects pronunciation, making the 'л' sound palatalized. Stress falls on the second syllable. Be cautious with the 'ч' sound, which is a voiceless palatal fricative.

Note on растирать: This verb has a rolling 'р' in some dialects, but standard pronunciation is as above. It's often stressed on the third syllable in imperfective forms.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To reduce a substance to fine particles by grinding or crushing (primary meaning)

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'измельчать' - Used in formal scientific writing, such as in chemistry or pharmacology, to describe mechanical processes.
• 'растирать' - Applied in informal or domestic contexts, like kitchen preparation, but can overlap with 'измельчать' in technical settings.

Usage Examples:

• В лаборатории мы измельчаем травы для извлечения эфирных масел.

  In the laboratory, we triturate herbs to extract essential oils.

• Чтобы приготовить пасту, растирайте чеснок с солью до однородной массы.

  To make the paste, triturate the garlic with salt until it forms a smooth mixture.

• Фармацевты измельчают таблетки для пациентов, которые не могут глотать целиком.

  Pharmacists triturate tablets for patients who cannot swallow them whole.

• В древних рецептах часто упоминается растирание минералов для создания порошков.

  In ancient recipes, triturating minerals to create powders is often mentioned.

• Механическое измельчание материалов ускоряет химические реакции в промышленности.

  Mechanical triturating of materials speeds up chemical reactions in industry.

To grind something thoroughly in a metaphorical sense (less common, e.g., in descriptions of wear and tear)

Translation(s) & Context:

• 'измельчать' - Rarely used metaphorically, in contexts like erosion or degradation.

Usage Examples:

• Ветер и дождь постепенно измельчают скалы у моря.

  Wind and rain gradually triturate the rocks by the sea.

• Со временем трение измельчает металл в пыль.

  Over time, friction triturates the metal into dust.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'измельчать' and 'растирать' are imperfective verbs in Russian, which means they describe ongoing or repeated actions. Russian verbs undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. 'Измельчать' is irregular in some forms, while 'растирать' follows more standard patterns.

Note: These verbs do not change for number in the infinitive form and are aspectually tied to imperfective actions. 'Измельчать' has perfective counterparts like 'измельчить', which should be used for completed actions.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Дробить (drob'it' – to crush or break into pieces; more forceful than 'измельчать')
  • Толочь (tolot' – to pound or mash; often used for manual processes)
• Antonyms:
  • Собирать (sobirat' – to gather or assemble)
  • Склеивать (skleyivat' – to glue or bind together)

Related Phrases:

• Измельчить в порошок – To triturate into powder (used in pharmaceutical contexts; refers to grinding something to a fine dust).
• Растирать в ступке – To triturate in a mortar (common in cooking or alchemy; implies using a traditional tool).
• Механическое измельчение – Mechanical triturating (a phrase for industrial processes involving machines).

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'triturate' is best translated as 'измельчать' for formal or technical uses, aligning closely with its English meaning in chemistry and pharmacy. However, 'растирать' is more versatile for everyday scenarios, such as in recipes. Always consider the aspect: use imperfective forms for ongoing actions and perfective (e.g., 'измельчить') for completed ones. In formal writing, prefer 'измельчать' to maintain precision, but in spoken language, 'растирать' might feel more natural. Be mindful of context—technical fields favor these verbs over general synonyms.

Common Errors:

• Confusing aspect: English learners often misuse the perfective form, e.g., saying 'я измельчаю' when 'я измельчил' (I have triturated) is needed for a completed action. Correct usage: Use 'измельчить' for finished processes, as in 'Я измельчил травы' instead of incorrectly saying 'Я измельчаю травы' for a past event.

• Overgeneralizing synonyms: Beginners might swap 'измельчать' with 'дробить', but 'дробить' implies larger pieces, not fine powder. Error example: 'Дробить таблетки' (incorrect for triturating into powder); Correct: 'Измельчить таблетки'.

• Pronunciation slips: Mispronouncing the palatalized sounds in 'измельчать', e.g., saying [ɪzˈmel.t͡ɕatʲ] without the soft 'л'. This can make the word sound unnatural; practice with native audio to avoid it.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, terms like 'растирать' evoke traditional practices, such as grinding herbs in a mortar and pestle for home remedies or folk medicine. This reflects Russia's historical reliance on manual processing in rural areas, contrasting with modern industrial 'измельчение'. Understanding these verbs can deepen appreciation for Russian culinary and pharmaceutical traditions, where such actions are symbolic of patience and craftsmanship.

Related Concepts:

• Дробление (crushing or fragmentation)
• Молка (grinding mill)
• Перетирать (to rub through or process further)