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

Part of Speech

Verbo

Phonetic Transcription

/dɛs.plaˈθaɾ/ (Spanish - Spain)
/dɛs.plaˈɾ/ (Spanish - Latin America)

Translation Options into English

• To displace
• To shift
• To move (from one place to another)

Meaning and Usage

"Desplazar" is a transitive verb that means to move or shift something from one place to another. It has various contexts, such as physical movement, figurative transitions, or legal contexts involving displacement or relocation of persons/objects. In common use, it appears frequently in both written and oral forms, especially in everyday conversations and literature related to travel or change.

Example Sentences

1. Los trabajadores tuvieron que desplazar las cajas al almacén.
   (The workers had to displace the boxes to the warehouse.)

2. Es difícil desplazar el pensamiento de una idea a otra.
   (It is difficult to shift thought from one idea to another.)

3. La reforma agraria busca desplazar a los grandes terratenientes.
   (The agrarian reform seeks to displace large landowners.)

Idiomatic Expressions

The verb “desplazar” appears in several idiomatic expressions in Spanish, often indicating movement or transition. Here are a few examples:

1. Desplazar la culpa

2. Ejemplo: No deberíamos desplazar la culpa a otros si cometemos un error.
   (We shouldn’t shift the blame to others if we make a mistake.)

3. Desplazar la atención

4. Ejemplo: Ella intentó desplazar la atención de su error al hablar de otros temas.
   (She tried to shift the attention from her mistake by talking about other topics.)

5. Desplazar a la competencia

6. Ejemplo: La nueva tecnología permite desplazar a la competencia en el mercado.
   (The new technology allows us to displace the competition in the market.)

7. Desplazar fronteras

8. Ejemplo: El acuerdo internacional busca desplazar fronteras y fomentar la cooperación.
   (The international agreement seeks to shift borders and promote cooperation.)

9. Desplazar el foco

10. Ejemplo: Es necesario desplazar el foco de nuestra atención hacia el cambio climático.
    (It is necessary to shift the focus of our attention towards climate change.)

Etymology

The word "desplazar" comes from the prefix "des-" meaning "from" or "away" and "plazar," which is derived from the Latin "placing" or "to place." Hence, "desplazar" literally means "to place away from" or "to remove from a place."

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Mover (to move) - Trasladar (to transfer) - Transferir (to transfer)

Antonyms: - Colocar (to put/place) - Fijar (to fix/set) - Establecer (to establish)

In summary, "desplazar" is a versatile verb with applications in various contexts, including legal, social, and technical domains, allowing for rich expression in both literal and figurative phrases.