Zufuhr

Zufuhr is a German noun meaning the act or process of supplying something to a person, system, or organism. It denotes an input, inflow, or provision that sustains function or operation. The term is common in discussions of nutrition, medicine, engineering, and infrastructure to describe the delivery of resources, energy, or data.

Etymology: Zufuhr is derived from the verb zuführen (to bring to, to supply) with the prefix zu- meaning toward and führen meaning to lead. The noun expresses the result of that action and is used across technical and everyday language.

In nutrition and medicine, Zufuhr relates to the intake and delivery of essential substances. Common compounds include Nährstoffzufuhr (nutrient supply), Energiezufuhr (calorie or energy intake), Sauerstoffzufuhr (oxygen delivery), and Wasserzufuhr (water intake). In engineering and logistics, it denotes the supply of inputs to systems or processes, such as Treibstoffzufuhr (fuel supply) or Datenzufuhr (data input). In public utilities, Wasserzufuhr refers to water provision to households or districts.

Measurement and context: Zufuhr is often quantified as a rate or amount per time, for example Kalorienzufuhr per Tag or Wasserzufuhr in Litern pro Stunde. The term is typically qualified by the resource involved, such as Nährstoffzufuhr, Energiezufuhr, or Treibstoffzufuhr, to specify the nature of the input.

See also: Zuführung and Zuführung in biological or technical contexts.

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