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desencadenar

to trigger

verb dehs-en-kah-deh-NAHR Less Common

Also means

to unleash

Usage Note

Desencadenar literally means 'to unchain' (from cadena, chain) and figuratively means to trigger or set off a chain of events: desencadenar una crisis. The reflexive desencadenarse describes something breaking out spontaneously: se desencadenó una tormenta (a storm broke out).

Examples

"El accidente desencadenó una investigación policial."

Natural Translation

The accident triggered a police investigation.

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