Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Swedish term or phrase:
cirkelpassare
English translation:
pair of compasses
Added to glossary by
Helen Johnson
Dec 3, 2007 21:44
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Swedish term
United Kingdom
Taught MA translation at Uni of Surrey
Native in: English 
Works in: Swedish to English, Danish to English, Norwegian to English
cirkelpassare
Swedish to English
Science
Science (general)
vacuum technology
Deras första produkt var en cirkelpassare, därav namnet Pi (3,14) AB.
Advice appreciated.
Advice appreciated.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +5 | pair of compasses |
Hanne Rask Sonderborg
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| 3 +1 | dividers |
Don Spade (X)
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Proposed translations
+5
32 mins
Hanne Rask Sonderborg
Denmark
Denmark
Denmark
Professional Full-Time Translator
Native in: Danish
Works in: English to Danish
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
pair of compasses
This should work.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2007-12-04 02:23:35 GMT)
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http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pair_of_compasses
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Note added at 4 hrs (2007-12-04 02:23:35 GMT)
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http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pair_of_compasses
Example sentence:
The first PIAB product was a pair of compasses that simplified the work of designers and draftsmen. This pair of compasses has given the company its name, Pi (=3.14) AB.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Sven Petersson
2 mins
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Thank you Sven!
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| agree |
Hugh Curtis
: you guys are right, sorry.
3 hrs
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Sorry, but you would never ever say "one compass" in English. The tool has too legs, therefore "a pair" or "a set". Look it up in any English dictionary!
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| agree |
Larry Abramson
: In the US, at least, it's just called a compass. Scissors, on the other hand, are "a pair"
3 hrs
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"a compass" is a navigating tool, which is an entirely different tool. A "pair of compasses" is one tool and it is correct in this context.
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| agree |
George Hopkins
: Pair of compasses or simply, compass. Both are correct.
9 hrs
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Yes, I should never say never! However, using the plural does avoid any chance of misunderstanding. Thank you George!
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| agree |
Don Spade (X)
: See PIAB's English website (http://www.piab.com/Templates/Page.aspx?id=5790, click on the instrument shown over the year 1951). Also to be found on their Swedish sites, and this is a pair of compasses (one foot has a pencil lead) rather than dividers.
11 hrs
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Thank you Don!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Hanne!"
+1
34 mins
dividers
I think this is the same as "passare" - see URL. Not absolutely certain!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
George Hopkins
: A type of compass with two pointed arms.
9 hrs
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Thanks George, but see my change of view to "(pair of) compasses".
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Discussion