Eltolód

Eltolód is a term used in Hungarian primarily in technical writing to denote a shift, displacement, or offset from a reference position or time. In standard usage, the corresponding noun is eltolódás; eltolód is typically not used as an independent noun in contemporary Hungarian, but appears as the verb stem of eltolódik or in abbreviated or compound forms in scientific texts.

In physics and engineering, eltolódás refers to any deviation from a nominal state, such as a spatial displacement from a reference point or a timing offset in a process. In geology and seismology, eltolódás describes the movement of rocks along faults or the displacement of ground during earthquakes. In astronomy, geodesy, and remote sensing, eltolódás can denote angular or temporal offsets in measurements or observations.

In everyday language, eltolódás is the more common form for a shift or displacement, while eltolód appears mainly in verb forms or fixed technical phrases. The term is closely related to other Hungarian words for movement and displacement, such as elmozdulás and időeltolódás, which are often preferred in their respective contexts.

Etymology: eltolód comes from the verb eltolódik (to shift aside, to drift). The prefix el- conveys movement away from a reference, and the suffix -dik marks the verb form; the noun form eltolódás is the standard nominalization. In specialized texts, eltolód may occur as a shortened or component form within longer technical terms.