to elapse / to spread
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to elapse
To refer to time that passes and comes to an end. Often used for deadlines, periods of time, or opportunities.
Die Frist zur Abgabe der Steuererklärung ist bereits verstrichen.
The deadline for submitting the tax return has already elapsed.
to spread
To spread and smooth out a substance such as cream, ointment, or plaster on a surface.
Der Handwerker verstrich den Mörtel sorgfältig in den Fugen der Mauer.
The craftsman carefully spread the mortar in the joints of the wall.
'Verstreichen' (to elapse / to spread) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb 'streichen' in all sentence forms.
Die Zeit verstrich wie im Flug.
Time flew by.
When it is about time that passes, the perfect tense of 'verstreichen' (to elapse) is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein'. It describes a change.
Leider ist die Bewerbungsfrist schon letzte Woche verstrichen.
Unfortunately, the application deadline already elapsed last week.
You can recognize the meaning from the subject of the sentence. If the subject is a time expression (time, deadline, moment), it means 'vergehen' (to pass). If the subject is a person doing something, it means 'verteilen' (to spread).
Die Gelegenheit ist leider ungenutzt verstrichen.
Unfortunately, the opportunity elapsed unused.
In the meaning 'vergehen' (to pass), the verb is often used with nouns such as 'Zeit' (time), 'Frist' (deadline), 'Gelegenheit' (opportunity), or 'Moment' (moment). It is also often combined in a passive-like way with 'lassen': 'eine Frist verstreichen lassen' (to let a deadline pass).
Er hat die letzte Chance einfach so verstreichen lassen.
He simply let the last chance pass by.
When 'verstreichen' means 'verteilen' (to spread), the object is typically a spreadable substance. Common examples are 'Salbe verstreichen' (to spread ointment), 'Creme verstreichen' (to spread cream), or 'Mörtel verstreichen' (to spread mortar).
Sie verstrich die Butter gleichmäßig auf dem Brot.
She spread the butter evenly on the bread.
to distribute / spread
Verteilen and verstreichen can both describe applying a substance to a surface. Verteilen emphasizes that the substance reaches all over the surface; verstreichen additionally emphasizes that cream, ointment, or a similar substance becomes a smooth layer in the process.
Mara verstreicht die Creme zu einer glatten Schicht auf dem Kuchen.
Mara spreads the cream into a smooth layer on the cake.
Mara verteilt die Creme gleichmäßig auf dem Kuchen.
Mara spreads the cream evenly over the cake.
