starp

From starpa (“interval, gap, area between”) (q.v.), probably originally a reduced form of its locative form starpā, or perhaps of its old (16th- and 17th-century) illative form starpan, or of its instrumental form starpu.[1]

• IPA^(key): [staɾp]

starp (with accusative)

1. used to locate an object in the space defined by two others; between

   sēdēt starp tēvu un māti ― to sit between father and mother

   starp viņiem atradās tikai Nora ― between them was only Nora

   mežs starp upi un pilsētu ― the forest between the river and the city

   galds atrodas starp skapi un logu ― the table is situated between the cabinet and the window

   ieplaka starp divām augstienēm ― a depression between two elevations

   skraidīt starp kūti un klēti ― to run between the (granary) barn and the (animal) barn

   starp diviem punktiem var novilkt tikai vienu taisni ― between two points (one) can draw only one straight line

2. used to locate an object in a space defined by many others; among, amid

   sēdēt starp draugiem ― to sit among friends

   starp kokiem redzams šķūnis ― the shed is visible among the trees

   putns nozūd starp ēkām ― the bird disappeared among the buildings

   bibliotekāre rosās starp grāmatu plauktiem ― the librarian is busy among the bookshelves

3. used to locate an object in a space defined by many others pairwise; among, between

   attālumi starp zvaigznēm ir miljoniem reižu lielāki par pašām zvaigznēm ― the distances between stars are millions to times larger than the stars themselves

4. used to correlate a time period within a larger time period defined by two events or points in time; between

   starp pirmo un septīto oktobri ― between 1st and 7th of October

   starp rītu un vakaru ― between morning and evening

   atpūta starp siena pļauju un labības pļauju ― (period of) rest between the hay harvest and the grain harvest

5. used to estimate a value or measurement within a certain interval; between

   temperatūra starp desmit un divpadsmit grādiem ― temperature between ten and twelve degrees

   kravas masa ir starp 100 un 120 kilogramiem ― the mass of (this) load is between 100 and 100 kilograms

6. used to indicate a comparison between two or more elements; between, among

   sāk izzust atšķirība starp laukiem un pilsētu ― he began to feel the difference between the countryside and the city

   starp gleznotāja darbiem šis ir labākais ― among the painter's works, this is the best

7. used to indicate a division between two or more goals; between

   sākumā viņš savu brīvu laiku dalīja starp šo grāmatu un veco harmoniju kaktā ― at first he divided his time between this book and the old harmonium in the corner

8. used to indicate a certain level of secrecy; between, among

   starp mums runājot, arī tava ceļazīme bija tikai formalitāte ― speaking between us, your voucher was also only a formality

9. used to indicate a mutual relationship; between, among

   starp viņiem nav saskaņas ― between them there is no harmony

   miers starp tautām ― peace among the nations

   cīņa starp divām komandām ― the fight between the two detachments, brigades

10. (figuratively) used to indicate a boundary or transitional zone between events, states, situations; between

    zēns stāvēja uz robežas starp pasaku un īstenību ― the boy was standing on the border between fairy tale and reality

    tava dzīve: izvilkta stīga starp darbu un mīlestību ― your life: a string pulled between work and love

    tas bija brauciens starp dzīvību un nāvi ― this was a journey between life and death

• vidū

compounds (quasi-prefix):

• starpa
• starpība
• starpnieks, starpniece, starpniecība