Udlødet

Udlødet is a Danish term that translates roughly as "the trigger" or "the release." It is used in technical, industrial, and journalistic language to designate the component or event that initiates a sequence of actions. The word can refer to a physical mechanism, such as a switch or sensor, or to the triggering moment that starts a process, an alarm, or a safety sequence.

Etymology and usage nuances: The term stems from the verb udløse, meaning to trigger or release. In manuals and safety documentation, udlødet is used to describe the initiating element or event that activates a system. In everyday language, the word can also be used metaphorically to denote something that precipitates a reaction or a chain of events. The exact meaning is guided by context, and the same root forms appear in related terms that describe triggers, actions, or outcomes.

Cognates and related forms: In Norwegian, a closely related form is utløst, meaning triggered, reflecting the shared Scandinavian linguistic heritage. Danish usage often relies on related words such as udløser for "the trigger" and liminal phrases that frame the triggering condition within a larger process. Regional or disciplinary variations may influence whether udlødet refers more to the mechanism itself or to the triggering event.

See also: udløser, udløse, utløst, Norwegian cognates.