Läbimine

Läbimine is an Estonian noun that denotes the act of going through, crossing, or permeating a barrier, as well as the process of overcoming an obstacle. The word is formed from the preposition läbi, meaning through, with the nominalizing suffix -mine. Its exact meaning depends on the context in which it is used.

In everyday language, läbimine can refer to physically moving from one side to another, such as a person passing through a doorway or a vehicle crossing a border. It can also describe the movement of substances or signals through a material or membrane, where permeability or penetration is the key idea.

In science and engineering, läbimine is commonly used to describe permeation or diffusion. For example, a solvent permeating a membrane or a gas penetrating a solid material. The concept is central to fields like materials science, chemistry, and pharmacology, where the rate and extent of passage through a barrier determine function and performance. In biology and medicine, läbimine often refers to the passage of drugs or nutrients across physiological barriers, such as epithelial layers or the blood–brain barrier.

In metaphorical usage, läbimine may denote a breakthrough or the overcoming of a significant obstacle, as in reaching a new stage in research, technology, or negotiations. Related terms include läbimurre (breakthrough) and läbikäik (passage, corridor).

Läbimine is a versatile term, and its precise sense is defined by context, ranging from physical crossing to material permeation to figurative breakthroughs.