despegar (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Despegar is a verb.

Phonetic Transcription

/dɛs.pe.ˈɡaɾ/

Translation Options into English

1. To take off
2. To unstick
3. To detach

Meaning and Usage

Despegar primarily means "to take off," especially in the context of aeronautics as it pertains to aircraft lifting off from the ground. Additionally, it can also refer to the action of removing something that is stuck or attached. This verb is commonly used in both oral and written contexts, particularly in everyday conversations, aviation discussions, and situations involving physical objects being detached. Its frequency of use is moderate in everyday language, higher in aeronautics, and it is commonly understood due to its relevance in various contexts.

Example Sentences

1. El avión va a despegar en cinco minutos.

2. The airplane is going to take off in five minutes.

3. Necesito despegar la etiqueta de la botella.

4. I need to unstick the label from the bottle.

5. Después de muchos ensayos, el proyecto finalmente pudo despegar.

6. After many rehearsals, the project finally managed to take off.

Idiomatic Expressions

Despegar is involved in several idiomatic expressions that convey different meanings or sentiments. Here are a few:

1. Despegarse de la realidad
2. Meaning: To detach from reality; to become unrealistic.

3. Example: A veces, las personas se despegan de la realidad y olvidan lo que es importante.

   • Sometimes people detach from reality and forget what is important.

4. Despegar como la espuma

5. Meaning: To take off rapidly; to become very successful very quickly.

6. Example: Su carrera despegó como la espuma después de la película.

   • His career took off rapidly after the movie.

7. No despegar la vista

8. Meaning: To not take one's eyes off something; to be captivated by something.

9. Example: No podía despegar la vista de aquel paisaje hermoso.

   • I couldn't take my eyes off that beautiful landscape.

10. Despegar con fuerza

11. Meaning: To take off with strength or enthusiasm; often used to describe initiatives or movements.
12. Example: La campaña política despegó con fuerza en la última semana.
    • The political campaign took off with strength in the last week.

Etymology

The verb despegar is derived from the prefix "des-" meaning "to undo" and "pegar" meaning "to stick" or "to paste." The combination suggests the action of un-sticking or detaching from a surface.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Desprender (to detach) - Desencajar (to unhinge)

Antonyms: - Pegar (to stick) - Adjuntar (to attach)