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infinitely adjustable

English translation: continuously variable

06:21 Jul 13, 2007
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Food & Drink / food processing appliance
English term or phrase: infinitely adjustable
Hello!
The context is the description of a grill and toaster (mixed appliance). Below are the only occurrences. It says:
“1. Rating label (on underside of unit)
2. Power cord with plug
3. Toaster operating lever
4. *Infinitely adjustable* browning control knob
5. Toast slot”
“The appliance has the following functions:
Toaster unit with automatic centre alignment for bread slices, electronic browning control and an *infinitely adjustable* browning control knob.”
“Toaster operation
- Insert the plug into a wall socket.
- Use the *infinitely adjustable* browning control knob to select the desired degree of browning from light '1' to dark '5'.
- Insert the bread into the toast slot and press the operating lever down.”
The picture is not relevant, as the knob is located to the side of the appliance and the picture is tken from the front.
I am puzzled by that knob and its being „infinitely adjustable”... Does this mean that the level of browning is adjustable for every use?
At first I thought that it meant that the knob can be rotated over and over, but then it said that the knob acutally selects a level of browning within the range 1-5.
Thank you very much for your assistance!
Monika Silea
Romania
Local time: 00:20
Selected answer:continuously variable
Explanation:
...is another synonym for the same thing.

As Shera has said, it means that the control (knob, dial, whatever) can be adjusted smoothly to any setting you like, inlcuding, for example, intermediate ones — as distinct from a kind of switch that might have a few, fixed positions only

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2007-07-13 10:29:59 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Your range of 1 — 5 is just a scale to help you find the right setting — but you are not restricted to setting it to just 1 or 2 or 3 etc, you can set it to 2¼ or anywhere else in between if you so wish...
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 23:20
Grading comment
This is tough! I select this answer because the heading is in English. Thank you all!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +1continuously variable
Tony M
2 +3regolabile all'infinito / in modo continuo
Shera Lyn Parpia


  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
regolabile all'infinito / in modo continuo


Explanation:
that means that you can set the dial at any point between 1 and 5 you can set it at 3 1/4

low confidence because I wonder whether there is a better way to say it.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2007-07-13 06:36:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

sorry about the Italian.
you could say "continuous regulation/setting"

Shera Lyn Parpia
Italy
Local time: 23:20
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 6
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for being so prompt! This is very helpful - I didn't think of that, to be honest!

Asker: I appreciate your answer, and I must note that it is very helpful as I need to transalte the term into Romanian and the italian version is very welcome. The only thing is that I made the question En to En and I don't want to break the KudoZ rules! No hard feelings!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jack Doughty: This is a very good way to say it, but your title should be in English.
2 mins
  -> sorry, early morning confusion. at least the explanation was in english.
agree  kmtext
40 mins
  -> thanks!
agree  Tony M: Your explanation is of course perfectly correct!
4 hrs
  -> thanks :)
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56 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
continuously variable


Explanation:
...is another synonym for the same thing.

As Shera has said, it means that the control (knob, dial, whatever) can be adjusted smoothly to any setting you like, inlcuding, for example, intermediate ones — as distinct from a kind of switch that might have a few, fixed positions only

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2007-07-13 10:29:59 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Your range of 1 — 5 is just a scale to help you find the right setting — but you are not restricted to setting it to just 1 or 2 or 3 etc, you can set it to 2¼ or anywhere else in between if you so wish...

Tony M
France
Local time: 23:20
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24
Grading comment
This is tough! I select this answer because the heading is in English. Thank you all!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, too!

Asker: Thank you very much for your further explanation. I believe I now get the picture.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ken Cox: a fairly common term in PR-oriented product specs ('infinitely' presumably sounds grander than 'continuously')
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Ken! Yes, and I suppose it's arguably technically more accurate: the adjustment has infinite resolution, rather than meaning 'you can keep on turning it for ever'!
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