Italian–English dictionary

a

In the absence of a specified object, used to indicate “the house/place/establishment of”.

a bisdosso

Without a saddle.

a bizzeffe

(postpositive) In abundance. [from late 17th c.]

a bordo

On board; into or within a ship or boat; hence, into or within a railway car. [from ca. 1350—1470]

a bordo di

On board of; onto or into a ship, boat, train, plane. [from ca. 1350—1470]

a brandelli

In tatters, having the texture broken.

a breve

Of or pertaining to the near or immediate future.

a casaccio

Randomly, haphazardly.

a caso

In a haphazard manner; in a random, chaotic, and incomplete manner.

a cavalcioni

With one’s legs on either side.

a cavallo

On the back of a horse.

a cavalluccio

On somebody's back or shoulders.

a chiare note

Obviously; clearly.

a cielo aperto

Outdoors.

a collo

(nautical) Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way. [First attested in the late 17th century.]

a condizione che

(idiomatic) Provided that, if, assuming (depending upon some condition or requirement).

a credito

With an understanding that the money lent will be paid back.

a cuore aperto

Showing enthusiastic and unconditional commitment; having no reservations.

a differenza di

In contrast with; as opposed to.

a Dio piacendo

(often, as disjunct) Barring unforeseen circumstances, it is hoped that (while generally also indicating acceptance of God's will).

a discrezione

Not compulsory; left to personal choice; elective.

a est

Towards the east; eastwards.

a fianco

Together with or at the same time.

a forma di ciuffo

(intransitive) To be formed into tufts.

a forma di uncino

Having a sharp curve at the end; resembling a hook.

a gogo

(postpositive) In abundance. [from late 17th c.]

a gomito

Formed with, or having, a bend or crank.

a grandi linee

Without reference to specific details.

a iosa

(Australia, US, idiomatic) So common as to be practically worthless.

a lei

The form of she used after a preposition, as the object of a verb, or (colloquial) as a subject with a conjunction; that woman, that ship, etc, or (dialect) as a subject without a conjunction.

a letto

(archaic) In bed, or on the bed; confined to bed. [First attested from 1150 to 1350.]

a livello mondiale

Over the entire planet.

a luci e ombre

(figurative) Changeable; inconsistent; having variations or uncertainty; marked by many problems or failures.

a luci rosse

(informal) Risqué; obscene; profane; pornographic.

a lungo termine

(idiomatic) After a very long time; eventually; over a long period of time; more generally.

a mai più rivederci

Used to indicate that a departure or loss is welcome.

a manetta

(postpositive) In abundance. [from late 17th c.]

a mano a mano che

To such an extent or degree; to the same extent or degree.

a marcia indietro

The act of going backwards; a reversal. [from 15th c.]

a meno che

Except on a specified condition; if not.

a metà strada

Half of the way between two points

a mio parere

according to me

a monte

(biology) Towards the leading end (5′ end) of a DNA molecule.

a nord

Toward the north; northward.

a occhio e croce

(not comparable, in combination with a number) About, approximately; somewhat more than (an approximated round number).

a parte

To or on one side so as to be out of the way.

a parte ciò

(conjunctive) In all other respects.

a partire da

From: referring to a period of time ending in the present and defining it by the point in time at which it started, or the period in which its starting point occurred.

a patto che

(idiomatic) Provided that, if, assuming (depending upon some condition or requirement).

a pelo

Without a saddle.

a pezzi

Excluded from consideration.

a piedi nudi

Wearing nothing on the feet.

a poppa

(nautical) On the aft side; in the stern. [First attested in the early 17th century.]

a poppavia

(nautical) On the aft side; in the stern. [First attested in the early 17th century.]

a portata di mano

Within easy reach; nearby.

a portata di orecchio

A distance from which sound is still audible.

a posto

(informal) All right; acceptable; good.

a priori

(logic) Based on hypothesis and theory rather than experiment or empirical evidence.

a profusione

(postpositive) In abundance. [from late 17th c.]

a proposito

Of an appropriate or pertinent nature.

a quadretti

Divided into a grid of squares of alternating colours or shades, or into light and dark patches.

a quadri

Divided into a grid of squares of alternating colours or shades, or into light and dark patches.

a ragion veduta

With intentionality, and deliberately, usually also with a connotation of due consideration and wise choosing.

a righe

Having stripes, decorated or marked with bands differing in color.

a rigor di logica

In a logical manner, with logic.

a rilento

(manner) At a slow pace.

a rischio

In a state or condition marked by a level of risk or vulnerability.

a riva

(nautical) On the land as opposed to onboard.

a rompicollo

Dangerously fast; hell-for-leather.

a rotta di collo

Dangerously fast; hell-for-leather.

a scacchi

Divided into a grid of squares of alternating colours or shades, or into light and dark patches.

a scartamento ridotto

Incapable of, or indisposed to, effective action; habitually slack or unproductive; effecting little or nothing

a singhiozzo

(by extension) Characterized by sudden bursts of activity with periods of inactivity in between; intermittent, irregular, unsteady.

a sorpresa

In a way that causes surprise because it is unexpected, or unusual.

a stretto contatto

In a close manner.

a tal punto

To a certain degree or extent

a tempo debito

A convenient time.

a tentoni

In a blind manner; without sight.

a tenuta stagna

Resistant to the effects of water.

a terra

(of a tire or other inflated object) Deflated, especially because of a puncture.

a testa

Per person.

a testa bassa

Sad because of a disappointment.

a testa in avanti

With the head first or down.

a torto

In violation of a moral or other standard, code, or convention; in an unfair, unjust, dishonest, or immoral manner; unfairly, unjustly, dishonestly, immorally, wrongfully; wrongly convicted is synonymous with wrongful conviction and miscarriage of justice.

a tutti i costi

As an absolute imperative; sparing no effort or expense

a tutto sesto

(of a number) Convenient for rounding other numbers to; for example, ending in a zero.

a ufo

Without paying; free.

a uncino

Having a sharp curve at the end; resembling a hook.

a valanga

A vote won by a wide or overwhelming majority.

a vapore

Cooked by steaming.

a varie interpretazioni

(philosophy) A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term.

a vicenda

(reciprocal pronoun) To one another; one to the other; signifies that a verb applies to two or more entities both as subjects and as direct objects:

a voce alta

With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly.

a volte

(idiomatic) On occasion, sometimes.

a-

Not, without, opposite of.

àa

(volcanology) A form of lava flow associated with Hawaiian-type volcanoes, consisting of basaltic rock, usually dark-colored with a jagged and loose, clinkery surface. Compare pahoehoe. [From 19th c.]

abaca

The fibre of the abaca.

abaco

A device used for performing arithmetical calculations; (rare) a table on which loose counters are placed, or (more commonly) an instrument with beads sliding on rods, or counters in grooves, with one row of beads or counters representing units, the next tens, etc. [from late 17th c.]

abalone

(North America, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore) An edible univalve mollusc of the genus Haliotis, having a shell lined with mother-of-pearl. [mid 19th c.]

Abate

A number of places in the United States:

abbacchiato

Unhappy; despondent.

abbacchio

(uncountable) The flesh of a lamb or sheep used as food.

abbacinare

(transitive) To confuse or overpower the sight of (someone or something, such as a sensor) by means of excessive brightness.

abbaco

A device used for performing arithmetical calculations; (rare) a table on which loose counters are placed, or (more commonly) an instrument with beads sliding on rods, or counters in grooves, with one row of beads or counters representing units, the next tens, etc. [from late 17th c.]

abbagliante

Shining very brightly.

abbaglianti

A bright light, with a lens and reflector, on the front of a motor vehicle (or originally a ship or train), designed to illuminate the road when driving at night; normally one of a pair.

abbagliare

(transitive) To confuse or overpower the sight of (someone or something, such as a sensor) by means of excessive brightness.

abbaglio

A clumsy or embarrassing mistake.

abbaiamento

The short, loud, explosive sound uttered by a dog, a fox, and some other animals.

abbaiare

Of a person or thing: to make a sound resembling a dog's bark.

abbandonare

(transitive) To interrupt the continuance of; to put an end to, especially as regards commercial productions; to stop producing, making, or supplying.

abbandonarsi ai ricordi

(intransitive) To talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories.

abbandonato

No longer maintained by its former owners, residents, or caretakers; forsaken, deserted. [Late 15th century]

abbandono

A yielding to natural impulses or inhibitions; freedom from artificial constraint, with loss of appreciation of consequences. [Early 19th century.] (Now especially in the phrase with abandon.)

abbarbicarsi

To hold very tightly, as to not fall off.

abbassamento

The difference in elevation of a wire, cable, chain or rope suspended between two consecutive points.

abbassare

(transitive) To lower, as in condition in life, office, rank, etc., so as to cause pain or hurt feelings; to degrade, to depress, to humble, to humiliate. [from c. 1350–1470]

abbassarsi

(intransitive) To abase oneself before another person.

abbasso

(comparable) From a higher position to a lower one; downwards.

abbastanza

Sufficiently.

abbattere

To select animals from a group and then kill them in order to reduce the numbers of the group in a controlled manner.

abbattersi

(intransitive) (of the sun) To shine brightly and radiate with intense heat.

abbattibirilli

A game played by rolling a ball down an alley and trying to knock over a triangular group of ten pins; ten-pin bowling/five-pin bowling

abbattimento

A state of melancholy or depression; low spirits, the blues.

abbattuto

Sad and dispirited.

abbazia

The dignity, estate, term, or jurisdiction of an abbot or abbess. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

abbaziale

Belonging to, relating to, or pertaining to an abbey, abbot, or abbess. [late 17th century]

abbecedario

A children's book intended to teach literacy: how to read, write, and spell.

abbellire

(transitive) To make beautiful; to increase the beauty of.

abbeverare

(transitive) To satisfy, especially a literal or figurative thirst.

abbeveratoio

A long, narrow container, open on top, for feeding or watering animals.