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denominar

to name

verb deh-noh-mee-NAHR Less Common

Also means

to designate

Usage Note

Denominar is formal — preferred in academic, legal, and scientific writing over llamar when defining how something is officially known (lo que se denomina efecto invernadero, what is known as the greenhouse effect). The passive denominarse is especially common in definitions. The noun denominación appears in official naming contexts, including wine classifications (Denominación de Origen).

Examples

"Este proceso se denomina fotosíntesis."

Natural Translation

This process is called photosynthesis.

Literal Translation

This process itself-is-named photosynthesis.

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