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szál. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
szál, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
szál in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
szál you have here. The definition of the word
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Hungarian
Etymology
Of debated origin:
- From Proto-Finno-Ugric *śalkɜ (“pole, rod, tree-trunk”), ultimately possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰalgʰ- (“stick”). Cognates include Finnish salko, Northern Sami čuolggu (“lever, crowbar”), Moksha сялго (śalgo, “stick”), Eastern Khanty сагыл (sagyl).
- A native word. Split from the noun sense of the obsolete term szil (“to cut, split; splinter”), with a possible original meaning of “split object”. See szilánk (“splinter”) for the same stem.
Pronunciation
Noun
szál (plural szálak)
- thread (a long, thin and flexible form of material, generally with a round cross-section, used in sewing, weaving or in the construction of string; it can be used attributively preceded by a quantity)
- Synonyms: fonal, cérna
- befűzi a szálat a tűbe ― to put thread through the needle
- egy szál pamut ― a single cotton thread
- fiber, fibre (UK)
- stick
- gyufaszál ― matchstick
- straw
- szívószál ― drinking straw
- (figuratively, usually in the plural) bond, tie (an emotional link, connection or union; that which holds two or more people together)
- Szoros szálak fűzik a szüleihez. ― He/she has a strong bond with his/her parents.
- (figuratively) thread, string, web (any interconnected set of persons, places, actions, or things in a plot or scheme)
- a cselekmény szála ― storyline
- az összeesküvés szálai ― the web of conspiracy
Usage notes
Not to be confused with the verb száll (“to fly”), pronounced with a long l.
Declension
Derived terms
References
Further reading
- szál in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (‘The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN