schleifen
sharpen · drag
Etwas über eine Fläche bewegen, sodass es glatter wird, oder etwas hinter sich her über den Boden ziehen.
The German word "schleifen" is a verb that means "to grind," "to sand," or "to sharpen". It can also refer to the action of dragging or trailing along a surface. The word can pertain to various contexts, such as metalworking, woodworking, or even in a more figurative sense of dragging out topics in conversation.
Related words with similar meanings include "schleifen" (to file or sand) and "schleifen" (to trail), however in specific contexts these can also mean to simply delay progression or outcomes. In contrast, "schleifen" primarily focuses on the action of sharpening or grinding an object. "Abtragen" (to wear away) can imply more erosion, while "zerschleifen" means to demolish or shred something literally into much smaller parts.
Make “schleifen” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Du musst den Stift schleifen.verb
You have to sharpen the pencil.
Du solltest das Schwert schleifen, bevor du es benutzt.verb
You should sharpen the sword before you use it.
Der Wagen schleifte über den nassen Asphalt.verb
The car dragged over the wet asphalt.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad