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desprender

to detach

verb des-prehn-DEHR Less Common
Descriptions & Qualities Manner

Also means

to give off

Usage Note

Desprender has two common senses: to detach or come loose (se desprendió una piedra, a rock came loose) and to emit or give off something (desprender calor/olor, to give off heat/smell). The reflexive desprenderse de also means 'to part with' or 'to infer from' (de esto se desprende que…, from this it follows that…). The last meaning is common in academic writing.

Examples

"La hoguera desprendía un calor intenso."

Natural Translation

The bonfire gave off intense heat.

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