estratificar

Estratificar is a verb in Spanish that means to stratify or to arrange in layers or strata.

Meaning:

1. To form or arrange in layers or strata:
   This sense relates to geology, biology, sociology, or other contexts where things are organized in layers. For example, sedimentary rocks can be estratificados (stratified), or social groups can be estratificados in terms of class.

2. To classify or categorize into different levels or groups:
   In statistics or data analysis, "estratificar" means dividing a population into subgroups or strata for better study of the characteristics.

Parts:

• The verb comes from "estrato", meaning "layer" or "stratum," which itself comes from Latin "stratum" meaning "something spread out."
• The suffix "-ificar" in Spanish is equivalent to "-ify" in English, meaning "to make" or "to turn into." So "estratificar" literally means "to make into layers."

Synonyms:

• Capas (to layer) - informally
• Clasificar (to classify) - in the context of grouping
• Organizar (to organize)

Antonyms:

• Mezclar (to mix)
• Unificar (to unify) - reversing the stratification by making into a single layer or group

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Example Sentences:

• En geología, las rocas están estratificadas en capas diferentes.
  (In geology, rocks are stratified in different layers.)

• Para el estudio, se estratificó la muestra por edad y género.
  (For the study, the sample was stratified by age and gender.)

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In summary, estratificar means to arrange or classify into layers or levels, either physically or metaphorically.