solear
Lemma Details
Translation: to sun; to expose to the sun; to dry in the sun
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Derived from 'sol' (sun) in Spanish, which comes from Latin 'sol'. The suffix '-ear' is a common Spanish verbal ending that indicates an action related to the root noun. The English cognate 'solar' shares the same Latin root. This verb specifically refers to the deliberate action of exposing something to sunlight, often for drying or curing purposes.
Commonality: 40%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Los agricultores solean las uvas para hacer pasas.
The farmers sun-dry the grapes to make raisins.
En verano, soleamos la ropa en el patio.
In summer, we dry clothes in the sun on the patio.
El proceso de solear el vino le da un sabor característico.
The process of exposing the wine to the sun gives it a characteristic flavor.
Mnemonics
- Think 'sol' (sun) + 'ear' (to do) = 'to do something with the sun'
- Remember that 'solar' in English relates to the sun, and 'solear' is to actively use the sun's power
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, especially in rural and agricultural contexts, 'solear' is commonly used to describe the traditional process of drying fruits, vegetables, or other agricultural products in the sun. It's also used in winemaking, particularly in the production of certain sherries in southern Spain where the wine is deliberately exposed to sunlight as part of the aging process.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'solear' means 'to expose to the sun', 'soltar' means 'to release' or 'to let go'. They look somewhat similar but have completely different meanings and conjugations.
Notes: The conjugation patterns are different: 'solear' follows regular '-ear' verb patterns, while 'soltar' is irregular in some tenses.
Mnemonic: 'Solear' has 'sol' (sun) in it, while 'soltar' has 'solt-' which can remind you of 'soltar la mano' (to let go of the hand).
Explanation: 'Solear' is a verb meaning 'to expose to the sun', while 'solar' can be an adjective meaning 'solar, relating to the sun' or a noun meaning 'plot of land'.
This word:
Necesitamos solear estas hierbas para que se sequen.
We need to sun-dry these herbs so they dry out.
Confused word:
Han instalado paneles solares en el tejado.
They have installed solar panels on the roof.
Notes: 'Solar' as a noun refers to a plot of land or a site for building, which is unrelated to the sun meaning.
Mnemonic: 'Solear' ends in '-ear' like many Spanish verbs (caminar, hablar), while 'solar' ends in '-ar' like many adjectives (familiar, similar).