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Zeitraffer

time-lapse

noun TSAIT-rah-fer Rare
Time Time Expressions

Also means

fast-forward replay

Usage Note

Zeitraffer is the opposite of Zeitlupe: events are compressed, so things appear faster than normal. Common in nature documentaries showing flowers blooming or clouds moving; also used figuratively for very swift development: im Zeitraffer zur Weltmacht aufgestiegen.

Examples

"Im Zeitraffer sieht man, wie die Stadt in zwanzig Jahren gewachsen ist."

Natural Translation

In time-lapse you can see how the city grew over twenty years.

Literal Translation

In time-compressor one sees how the city has grown in twenty years.

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