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  3. Construction / Civil Engineering

Holz arbeitet

English translation: wood expands and contracts

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Holz arbeitet
English translation:wood expands and contracts
Entered by: Frances Bryce

11:03 Feb 26, 2007
German to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Construction / Civil Engineering / Terms and conditions for house construction
German term or phrase: Holz arbeitet
Es ist eine natürliche Erscheinung, dass Holz auch in eingebautem Zustand arbeitet und Schwindspalten bilden kann. Soweit die Schwindspalten keinen Einfluss auf die statische Sicherheit und Dichtheit der gesamten Konstruktion haben, liegt kein Mangel vor.

I'm not sure whether I've misunderstood sth in this sentence. Does the Holz arbeiten part imply that the wood is 'under strain' as this makes sense....... I have never heard of 'wood doing work' before!! Or have I somehow looked at this al wrong?
Frances Bryce
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:50
wood expands and contracts
Explanation:
...meaning that the dimensions of a wooden shape change with temperature and, more important, humidity.
Selected response from:

David Seycek
Austria
Local time: 02:50
Grading comment
Great. Just as I thought. Thanks everyone for your help
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1it warps
CMJ_Trans (X)
3 +1wood expands and contracts
David Seycek
4wood expands and contracts
Tim Jenkins
4contracts and expands
Marc Bleser


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
it warps


Explanation:
any bog standard dictionary has this.... not even technical

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 02:50
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 58

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Ulrike Kraemer: But that's not all. Holz kann sich auch ausdehnen oder schrumpfen (alles unter dem Oberbegriff "arbeiten").
4 mins
neutral  Nicole Schnell: Absolutely w/ LittleBalu.
13 mins
agree  Harald Pigall
2 hrs
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
wood expands and contracts


Explanation:
...meaning that the dimensions of a wooden shape change with temperature and, more important, humidity.

David Seycek
Austria
Local time: 02:50
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in CzechCzech
PRO pts in category: 23
Grading comment
Great. Just as I thought. Thanks everyone for your help

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kim Metzger: Wood moves.
2 hrs
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
wood expands and contracts


Explanation:
Use "warp" if the deformation is permanent, but wood constantly expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity.

Tim Jenkins
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:50
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
contracts and expands


Explanation:
Ist vielleicht nicht die eleganteste Möglichkeit, passt hier aber eigentlich ganz gut.

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Note added at 12 mins (2007-02-26 11:16:34 GMT)
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da kam ich wohl einen Tick zu spät...

Marc Bleser
Germany
Local time: 02:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
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