The word "elapses" is spelled with the letter combination "el" and "apses". The "el" is pronounced with a short "e" sound, like "ehl", while the "apses" is pronounced with a long "a" sound, like "aypses". In IPA phonetic transcription, this would be written as /ɪˈlæpsɪz/ to reflect the short "e" in "el" and the long "a" in "apses". "Elapses" is a verb that means the passage of time, or the lapse of time, and is commonly used in writing and speech.
Elapses is the third person singular form of the verb "elapse," which refers to the passing or duration of a particular period of time. Elapse denotes the process of time slipping away or going by, typically measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years. It suggests the progression and movement of time from one point to another, without any reference to the events or activities occurring during that period.
When a period of time elapses, it means that it has passed or gone by completely, indicating the end of that specific duration. This term is often used to describe the ticking away of time or the passage from one moment to the next, emphasizing the continuous nature of time and its inevitable flow.
For instance, one might say, "An entire day had elapsed before she finished the project," indicating that a full day passed between starting and completing the project. Another example could be, "Only a few seconds elapsed between the lightning and the thunder," illustrating the brief time interval between the two events.
In summary, elapses signifies the passing or expiration of time, and it is commonly used to denote the duration between two events or moments.
The word elapses is derived from the Latin verb elabi which means to slip away or to escape. The Latin word elapsus is the past participle form of elabi which gives rise to the English word elapses. In English, elapses is typically used as the third person singular present tense form of the verb elapse, which means to pass or go by, as time.