lokalisieren
to locate
To determine or find the exact place or position of someone or something.
EXAMPLE
Die Feuerwehr konnte den Brandherd schnell lokalisieren.
The fire department was able to quickly locate the source of the fire.
lokalisieren
to locate / localize
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Meanings
lokalisieren
to localize
To confine something to a particular area or place and thus prevent it from spreading.
EXAMPLE
Die Ärzte versuchten, die Infektion zu lokalisieren, bevor sie den ganzen Körper befällt.
The doctors tried to localize the infection before it affected the whole body.
Usage tips
Word structure
The verb 'lokalisieren' (to locate/localize) is derived from the adjective 'lokal' (local). The ending '-isieren' (-ize) forms verbs and often means 'to do something' or 'to make something,' here meaning 'to determine the location of something.'
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei versucht, den Anrufer zu lokalisieren.
The police are trying to locate the caller.
Sentence structure
Verbs ending in '-isieren' are always regular, weak verbs. They are also never separable, so the prefix always stays attached to the verb.
EXAMPLE
Er lokalisierte das Problem schnell.
He quickly located the problem.
Typical objects
In the meaning 'finden' (to find), the verb is often used with objects such as 'den Fehler' (the error), 'die Ursache' (the cause), 'den Standort' (the location), or 'eine Person' (a person).
EXAMPLE
Der Techniker konnte die Ursache des Problems nicht lokalisieren.
The technician could not locate the cause of the problem.
Context clue
The meaning 'eingrenzen' (to contain/narrow down) or 'beschränken' (to restrict/confine) is often used in medical or technical contexts. Typical objects here are 'eine Infektion' (an infection), 'ein Brand' (a fire), or 'ein Schaden' (damage).
EXAMPLE
Die Einsatzkräfte versuchen, das Feuer auf den Wald zu lokalisieren.
The emergency crews are trying to contain the fire in the forest.
Compare with
lokalisieren vs eingrenzen
to narrow down / enclose
Here, lokalisieren means restricting a spread to a specific area. Eingrenzen more generally reduces or limits the scope of a problem or area. Use lokalisieren when emphasizing local concentration, and eingrenzen when reducing the extent affected.
lokalisieren
Durch schnelles Handeln ließ sich das Feuer auf einen Raum lokalisieren.
By acting quickly, they were able to confine the fire to one room.
eingrenzen
Durch schnelles Handeln ließ sich die Ausbreitung des Feuers auf einen Gebäudeteil eingrenzen.
By acting quickly, they were able to limit the fire's spread to one part of the building.
In real life
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