English vocabulary
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English vocabulary
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719 Terms
Abate [<st>]
EN: To become (or to cause <st> to become) less strong, or to make <st> less strong
IT: Ridursi d’intensità, placare
Abridge
EN:
To shorten by omission of words without sacrifice of meaning
To reduce in scope, to restrict
IT:
Riassumere, abbreviare
Restringere, limitare
Abscond
EN: To go away suddenly and secretly in order to escape from somewhere
IT: Dileguarsi, darsi alla latitanza
Add insult to injury
EN: To make an argument or bad situation worse
IT: Aggiungere al danno la beffa
Addle
EN: To throw into confusion or to become confused
IT: Confondere, frastornare, confondersi
Adept at doing <st>
EN: Thoroughly proficient at doing <st>
IT: Abile, esperto, capace in <qs>
Adjudicate [on <st>]
EN: To make an official decision about who is right [in <st> (e.g. a dispute)]
IT: Pronunciarsi, giudicare, agire da giudice [rispetto a <qs>]
Affray
EN: A fight in a public place that disturbs the peace
IT: Rissa, zuffa, scazzottata
Against the grain
EN:
Different from what is normal or usual
Perpendicular to the grain or the striping (e.g. when cutting meat)
IT:
Contrario a ciò che è normale
Perpendicolare alla grana o alle striature (es. quando si taglia la carne)
Against type
EN: In a different role than usual (e.g. comedian in a dramatic role)
IT: In un ruolo differente rispetto al solito (es. attore comico in un ruolo drammatico)
Aggrieved
EN:
Troubled or distressed in spirit
Suffering from an infringement or denial of legal rights (commonly used for minority groups)
IT:
Afflitto, addolorato
Leso, danneggiato
Ague
EN: An illness (such as malaria) marked by chills, fever, and sweating that recur at regular intervals
IT: Febbre malarica
Ait
EN: A little island (also spelled “eyot“)
IT: Isoletta
Ajar
EN: Slightly open
IT: Socchiuso
All the rage
EN: Very popular
IT: All’ultima moda
Allay
EN: To subdue or reduce in intensity or severity
IT: Calmare, placare, sedare, lenire, alleviare, attenuare, mitigare
Alms
EN: Something (such as money or food) given freely to relieve the poor
IT: Elemosina
Amble
EN: To walk in a slow and relaxed way
IT: Passeggiare lentamente
Amenable to <st>
EN: Having or showing willingness to agree or to accept <st> that is wanted or asked for
IT: Disponibile, favorevole, propenso, disposto, incline
Anchorite
EN: Someone who lives alone and away from other people for religious reasons
IT: Anacoreta
And then some
EN: And even more
IT: E ancora di più
Angling
EN: Fishing with hook and line
IT: Pesca con la canna
Anoint <sb/st>
EN:
To smear or rub with oil or an oily substance
To choose by or as if by divine election
IT:
Ungere <qn/qs>
Consacrare <qn/qs>
Antipathetic
EN: Hostile, having a natural aversion
IT: Contrario, ostile, in opposizione
Aperient
EN: Gently moving the bowels, laxative
IT: Lassativo
Appalling
EN: Inspiring horror, dismay, or disgust
IT: Scioccante, spaventoso, terribile, orrendo, pessimo
Arraign <sb>
EN: To call a defendant before a court to answer to a charge
IT: Citare <qn> in giudizio
As the crow flies
EN: In a straight line
IT: In linea d’aria
Aspergillum
EN: A brush or small perforated container with a handle that is used for sprinkling holy water in a liturgical service
IT: Aspersorio
Assuage
EN: To ease, pacify, appease
IT: Calmare, tranquillizzare, placare
Attune <sb/st> [to <sb/st>]
EN: To bring <sb/st> into harmony, e.g. to tune <st> (an instrument) or to make <sb/st> receptive or acclimatized to <sb/st> else; often used passively (e.g. “<sb/st> is attuned to <sb/st>”)
IT: Intonare <qn/qs>, armonizzare <qn/qs> con <qn/qs> altro, far acclimatare o adattare <qn/qs> a <qn/qs> altro
Auger
EN: Tool or device with a helical shaft or part that is used for boring holes (as in wood, soil, or ice) or moving loose material (such as snow)
IT: Trivella
Aweigh
EN: Raised just clear of the bottom
IT: Staccato dal fondo
Awl
EN: A pointed tool for marking surfaces or piercing small holes
IT: Punteruolo
Awning
EN: A rooflike cover extending over or in front of a place (as over the deck or in front of a door or window) as a shelter
IT: Tenda parasole
Awry
EN:
In a turned or twisted position or direction
Off the correct or expected course
IT
Storto, di traverso
Qualcosa che non va
Back up <st>
EN:
To make a copy of <st> to protect against accidental loss or corruption
To support <st>
To drive <st> backwards
IT:
Fare il back-up di <qs>
Confermare/sostenere <qs>
Fare retromarcia con <qs>
Backhanded
EN: Of unclear meaning and usually meaning the opposite of what it seems to mean
IT: Ambiguo, equivoco
Backwoods
EN:
A remote or culturally unsophisticated area
A culturally unsophisticated person
IT:
Posto remoto
Luogo o persona culturalmente arretrato
Bailiff
EN:
An official employed by a British sheriff to serve writs and make arrests and executions
A minor officer of some U.S. courts usually serving as a messenger or usher
IT: Ufficiale giudiziario
Balance the book
EN: To make sure that the expenses don’t exceed the earnings
IT: Far quadrare i conti
Balderdash
EN: Something stupid or not true
IT: Stupidaggine
Balk [at <st>]
EN:
To stop short and refuse to proceed
To refuse <st> abruptly
IT:
Tirarsi indietro, rifiutarsi, impuntarsi
Opporsi a <qs>
Ballast
EN: A heavy substance (such as rocks or water) placed in such a way as to improve stability and control
IT: Zavorra
Balustrade
EN: A set of posts or a screen to prevent people from falling over the edge of stair or a balcony, often with a wooden, metal, or stone bar on top
IT: Balaustra
Barrister
EN: A counsel admitted to plead at the bar and undertake the public trial of causes in an English superior court
IT: Avvocato
Barrow
EN:
A large mound of earth or stones over the remains of the dead, a tumulus
A cart with a shallow box body, two wheels, and shafts for pushing it
IT:
Tumulo
Carretto, carriola
Basely
EN: In a way that shows no honour or morals
IT: In modo vile
Baste
EN: To moisten foods (especially meat) at intervals with a liquid (such as melted butter, fat, or pan drippings) especially during the cooking process to prevent drying and add flavor
IT: Cuocere in umido
Be in thrall to <sb/st>
EN: To be in a state of being controlled or strongly influenced by <sb/st>
IT: Essere alla mercé di <qn/qs>
Be loath to do <st>
EN: To be unwilling to do <st> contrary to one's ways of thinking
IT: Essere restìo a fare <qs>
Be that as it may
EN: Used to introduce a statement that is somehow different from what has just been said
IT: Ad ogni modo
Bedeck
EN: To clothe with finery
IT: Decorare, adornare
Bedevil
EN:
To possess with or as if with a devil
To cause distress, spoiling or utter confusion
IT:
Stregare
Tormentare, assillare, funestare
Bedsitter
EN: A one-room apartment serving as both bedroom and sitting room
IT: Monolocale
Befuddle
EN: To confuse, perplex
IT: Confondere, disorientare
Beguile
EN: To persuade, attract, or interest, sometimes in order to deceive
IT: Incantare, sedurre, ammaliare
Behest
EN: An authoritative order or an urgent prompting
IT: Comando, volere
Behoove <sb> to do <st>
EN: To be necessary, proper, or advantageous for <sb> to do <st>
IT: Essere necessario o doveroso per <qn> fare <qs>
Beleaguer <sb/st>
EN:
Besiege <st>
Trouble, harass <sb/st>
IT:
Circondare, assediare <qs>
Assillare, tormentare <qn/qs>
Bell end
EN:
Head of the penis, glans
Idiot (very offensive)
IT:
Glande, cappella
Testa di cazzo
Bemused
EN: Bewildered or confused
IT: Confuso
Bequest
EN: The act of giving or leaving something by will
IT: Lascito testamentario
Bereft
EN: Suffering the death of a loved one
IT: In lutto
Berth
EN:
An amount of distance maintained for safety, especially when manoeuvering a ship
The place where a ship lies when at anchor or at a wharf
A place to sit or sleep especially on a ship or vehicle
IT:
Spazio di manovra
Ormeggio, attracco
Cuccetta
Beseem
EN: To be fitting or becoming
IT: Addirsi, essere appropriato
Betwixt
EN: Between
IT: Tra, fra, in mezzo
Bevel
EN: The angle that one surface or line makes with another when they are not at right angles, the slant of such a surface/line or the surface/line itself
IT: Smussatura
Bibulous
EN:
Highly assorbent
Fond of alcoholic beverages
IT:
Assorbente
Ubriaco, brillo
Bide the time
EN: To wait patiently, possibly for a good opportunity to do something
IT: Aspettare un’opportunità, ammazzare il tempo
Bier
EN: A stand on which a corpse or coffin is placed
IT: Catafalco per le bare
Binnacle
EN: A container for instruments in an automobile dashboard or for a ship’s compass
IT: Chiesuola, plancia
Bleary
EN: Poorly outlined or defined
IT: Confuso, indistinto, annebbiato, torbido
Bleat
EN: To make the natural cry of a sheep or goat
IT: Belare
Blight
EN: A deteriorated condition
IT: Degrado, rovina
Blindside <sb>
EN: To hit, strike, or tackle <sb> suddenly and very hard from their blind side
IT: Prendere <qn> alla sprovvista, attaccare <qn> di sorpresa
Blithe
EN: Of a happy lighthearted character or disposition
IT: Gioioso
Blot <st>
EN:
To spot, stain, or spatter <st> with a discoloring substance
To remove <st> with absorbing material
IT:
Macchiare, infangare <qs>
Tamponare, asciugare, raccogliere <qs>
Blunder
EN:
To move unsteadily or confusedly
To make a mistake through stupidity, ignorance, or carelessness
IT:
Barcollare
Prendere una cantonata
Blunderbuss
EN: A muzzle-loading firearm with a short barrel and flaring muzzle to facilitate loading
IT: Archibugio
Bluster
EN:
To speak in a loud, angry, or offended way, usually with little effect
For the wind, to blow strongly
IT:
Fare il bullo
Per il vento, soffiare forte o infuriare
Boatswain
EN: A naval warrant officer in charge of the hull and all related equipment
IT: Nostromo
Bode
EN: To indicate a future event by signs (usually with “ill“ or “well”)
IT: Far presagire
Boffin
EN: A nerdy scientific expert
IT: Scienziato, esperto
Boisterous
EN: Noisily turbulent
IT: Turbolento, chiassoso
Bollard
EN:
A post of metal or wood on a wharf around which to fasten mooring lines
Any of a series of short posts set at intervals to delimit an area (such as a traffic island) or to exclude vehicles
IT:
Bitta
Paletto
Bolster
EN: To support or improve something or make it stronger
IT: Rinforzare, sostenere
Bondman
EN: A male slave or serf
IT: Schiavo, servo
Boon
EN:
Blessing
Favour
IT:
Manna, pacchia
Favore, cortesia
Boondocks
EN: Remote, thinly settled rural area
IT: Località sperduta
Boorish
EN: Rude and insensitive
IT: Cafone
Bouffant
EN: Puffed out
IT: Vaporoso, a sbuffo
Bough
EN: A large branch of a tree
IT: Grosso ramo
Bowdlerize
EN: To expurgate by omitting or modifying parts considered vulgar, or more in general to modify by abridging, simplifying, or distorting in style or content
IT: Censurare, adulterare
Bower
EN:
A shelter (as in a garden) made with tree boughs or vines twined together
A lady's private apartment in a medieval hall or castle
IT:
Pergola, pergolato
Boudoir
Brackish
EN: Somewhat salty and not appealing to the taste
IT: Salmastro
Brawn
EN: Muscular strength
IT: Forza muscolare
Break out in <st>
EN: Become infected with <st>
IT: Essere colpiti da <qs> (es. una malattia)
Breeches
EN: Short pants covering the hips and thighs and fitting snuggly at the lower edges at or just below the knee
IT: Pantaloncini al ginocchio
Briar
EN: A plant (such as a rose, blackberry, or greenbrier) having a usually woody and thorny or prickly stem
IT: Rovo
