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acuñar

to coin (a word or phrase)

verb ah-koo-NYAR Rare

Also means

to mint (coins)

Usage Note

Acuñar has two distinct uses: literally, to stamp metal into coins (acuñar monedas), and figuratively, to coin a new word or expression (acuñar un término). The figurative sense is very common in academic and journalistic writing. The past participle acuñado often appears in phrases like el término fue acuñado por… ('the term was coined by…').

Examples

"El científico acuñó un nuevo término."

Natural Translation

The scientist coined a new term.

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