Italian–English dictionary

meloncello

Any of the herbs of genus Sanguisorba (syn. Poterium), including salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor), an herb used in salads and herbal teas.

melone

(countable) The large, round to ovoid fruits that have rinds and are of such plants

meloni

(usually, in the plural, slang) The breasts.

melting pot

(figurative) A place where many divergent things (often races or cultures, but also talents) come together and are homogenized.

mem

The thirteenth letter of many Semitic alphabets/abjads (Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic and others).

membra

(anatomy) The portion of the upper human appendage, from the shoulder to the wrist and sometimes including the hand.

membrana

(anatomy, zootomy) A flexible enclosing or separating tissue forming a plane or film and separating two environments.

membro

An external body part that projects from the body.

membro del congresso

A male member of congress.

memento

An object given by a person and retained in memory of something or someone; something kept for sentimental or nostalgic reasons.

memoria

(electronics, computing) Acronym of random-access memory.

memoria cache

(computing) A fast temporary storage where recently or frequently used information is stored to avoid having to reload it from a slower storage medium.

memorie

A biography; a book describing the experiences of a subject from personal knowledge of the subject or from sources with personal knowledge of the subject.

memorizzare

(transitive, idiomatic) To take in avidly with the intellect or with one's gaze.

memorizzazione

The act of committing something to memory or memorizing.

menarca

The onset of menstruation; a girl's first period.

menare

To cause (someone or something) to collide with or hit another person or thing; or (two people or things) to collide with or hit each other.

mendacità

An act or practice intended to deceive; a trick.

mendicante

A person who begs.

mendicare

(intransitive) To request the help of someone, often in the form of money.

meneghina

A native or inhabitant of the city of Milan or surrounding metropolitan city, Lombardy, Italy.

meneghino

Of, from or relating to the city of Milan or surrounding metropolitan city, Lombardy, Italy.

Menelao

(Greek mythology) The king of Mycenaean Sparta, the husband of Helen of Troy, the brother of Agamemnon, and the leader of the Spartan contingent of the Greek army during the Trojan War.

menestrello

(historical) Originally, an entertainer employed to juggle, play music, sing, tell stories, etc.; a buffoon, a fool, a jester; later, a medieval (especially travelling) entertainer who would recite and sing poetry, often to their own musical accompaniment.

Menfi

A city of ancient Egypt.

menhir

(archaeology) A single tall standing stone as a monument, especially one dating to prehistoric times.

meningite

(pathology) Inflammation of the meninges, characterized by headache, neck stiffness and photophobia and also fever, chills, vomiting and myalgia.

Meno

A river in southern Germany, flowing from Bavaria to the Rhine.

meno male

In a lucky manner; by good fortune; fortunately.

menomare

To wound seriously; to cause permanent loss of function of a limb or part of the body.

menopausa

The final menstrual period of a woman after which ovulation no longer occurs.

menorah

A holy candelabrum with seven branches used in the Temple of Jerusalem.

mensa

(chiefly, US, Canada) A restaurant in which customers select their food at a counter then carry it on a tray to a table to eat.

menscevica

(now, chiefly, historical) A member of the gradualist or moderate wing of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party during the years preceding the Russian Revolution, when they split with the Bolsheviks; or a member of a later independent moderate-Marxist party formed in 1917. [from 20th c.]

menscevico

(now, chiefly, historical) A member of the gradualist or moderate wing of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party during the years preceding the Russian Revolution, when they split with the Bolsheviks; or a member of a later independent moderate-Marxist party formed in 1917. [from 20th c.]

mensile

Occurring every month.

mensilmente

Every month.

mensola

(architecture) A beam anchored at one end and projecting into space, such as a long bracket projecting from a wall to support a balcony.

mensuale

Occurring every month.

menta piperita

A hybrid herb of the mint family (Mentha × piperita), formed by crossing watermint and spearmint, which has a high menthol content and a sharp flavor and is used in cooking, especially in herb teas and in confections. [from 17th c.]

mentale

(relational) Of or relating to the mind or specifically the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality.

mentalità

(figurative) Disposition or state of mind.

mentalmente

In a mental manner; an idea thought out in one's mind, as opposed to an idea spoken orally.

mente

Used to form adverbs from adjectives and nouns.

mentina

(countable) Any of various sweets containing extract of the peppermint herb; peppermint confectionery. [from 19th c.]

mentire

(informal, intransitive) To lie, especially more or less inconsequentially.

mentitore

A person who frequently lies; someone who tells a lie.

mentitrice

A person who frequently lies; someone who tells a lie.

mento

Used to form nouns or noun-like words (or elements of noun phrases) from verbs, denoting the act of doing something, an action, or the embodiment of an action.

mentolo

(organic compound) A cyclic monoterpene alcohol; the major component of the essential oil of peppermint; used in pharmaceutical preparations as an antitussive and antipruritic agent, as a nasal decongestant, and in menthol cigarettes.

mentoniero

(anatomy, relational) Of or relating to the chin or median part of the lower jaw, genial.

mentore

A wise and trusted counselor or teacher.

mentre

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

menu

The details of the food to be served at a banquet; a bill of fare.

menzionare

To mention.

menzione

A speaking or noticing of anything, usually in a brief or cursory manner.

menzogna

(uncountable) The property of being false.

menzognero

(countable) A false statement, especially an intentional one; a lie.

meramente

(focus) Without any other reason etc.; only, just, and nothing more. [from 16th c.]

meraviglia

The feeling or experience of being astonished; great surprise.

meravigliare

(transitive) To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted by something unexpected.

meravigliarsi

(intransitive) To become filled with wonderment or admiration; to be amazed at something.

meraviglioso

Causing wonder and amazement; very surprising.

mercante

A person who traffics in commodities for profit.

mercanteggiamento

An agreement between parties concerning the sale of property; or a contract by which one party binds themself to transfer the right to some property for a consideration, and the other party binds themself to receive the property and pay the consideration.

mercantessa

A person who traffics in commodities for profit.

mercantile

A ship that carries cargo.

mercantilismo

(historical, economics) The theory that a nation must always have a positive balance of trade, in the manner that a merchant would operate a shop. Typically this model presupposes protectionism.

mercanzia

(uncountable) Goods which are or were offered or intended for sale.

mercatistica

(uncountable) The promotion, distribution and selling of a product or service; the work of a marketer; includes market research and advertising.

mercato

A fair or temporary market, often for charity.

mercatologia

(uncountable) The promotion, distribution and selling of a product or service; the work of a marketer; includes market research and advertising.

merce

(business) Anything movable (a good) that is bought and sold. [from 15th c.]

mercede

(uncountable) Forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.

Mercedes

Clipping of Mercedes-Benz (“a car manufactured by Mercedes-Benz”).

mercenario

(historical) A medieval mercenary.

Mercia

(historical) One of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England.

merciaio

A dealer in ribbons, buttons, thread, needles and similar sewing goods.

mercoledì

The fourth day of the week in many religious traditions, and the third day of the week in systems using the ISO 8601 norm; it follows Tuesday and precedes Thursday.

mercurio

(science, historical) One of the elemental principles formerly thought to be present in all metals. [from 15th c.]

merda

(mildly, vulgar) Expressing anger, irritation, contempt, or disappointment.

merda!

(vulgar, colloquial) An expression of anger, surprise, intense excitement or frustration.

merenda

(informal, rare) A leisurely meal between lunch and dinner in the late afternoon or early evening (about 3-5 p.m.), usually instead of lunch or dinner.

merendina

An item of food eaten between meals.

meretrice

(obsolete) A churl; a common man; a person, male or female, of low birth, especially one given to low conduct.

meridiana

(geography) A circle of latitude or of longitude, as represented on a map.

meridiano

(geography) A circle of latitude or of longitude, as represented on a map.

meridionale

(astronomy, geography, meteorology) along a north–south direction, or relative to a meridian; or relating to meridians or a meridian [from 15th c.]

meritevole

Making a fair equivalent of, repaying or compensating.

merito

(countable) A claim to commendation or a reward.

meritocrazia

Rule by merit and talent.

merletto

(uncountable) A light fabric containing patterns of holes, usually built up from a single thread.

Merlino

A wizard in the Arthurian legend.

merlo

A common true thrush, Turdus merula, found in woods and gardens over much of Eurasia, and introduced elsewhere.

merlo acquaiolo

Any of various small passerine birds of the genus Cinclus that live near fast-flowing streams and feed along the bottom.

mero

Free of flaws or imperfections; unsullied.

mero desiderio

(idiomatic, psychology) The formation of beliefs based on an outcome that aligns with one's desires or hopes, while disregarding evidence, rationality, or reality.

merto

(countable, uncountable) Something deserving or worthy of positive recognition or reward.

meschinità

(uncountable) The condition, or quality, of being mean (any of its definitions)

meschino

Without dignity of mind; destitute of honour; low-minded; spiritless; base.

mescola

The result of mixing two or more substances; a mixture.

mescolanza

A collection or mixture of miscellaneous things. [from 17thc.]

mescolare

(transitive) To intermix; to combine or join, as an individual or part, with other parts, but commonly so as to be distinguishable in the product.

mescolarsi

To cause or allow to intermarry.

mese

A period into which a year is divided, historically based on the phases of the moon.

messa

(Roman Catholic Church) The principal liturgical service of the Church, encompassing both a scripture service (Liturgy of the Word) and a eucharistic service (Liturgy of the Eucharist), which includes the consecration and oblation (offering) of the host and wine.

messa a punto

(countable, uncountable) The regulation of the pace of e.g. an athletic race, the speed of an engine, the delivery of a joke, or the occurrence of a series of events.

messa funebre

A Mass (especially Catholic) to honor and remember a dead person.

messa in accusa

(countable, law, chiefly, US) The act of impeaching or charging a public official with misconduct, especially if serious, often with the aim of having the official dismissed from office.

messa in fase

(countable, uncountable) The regulation of the pace of e.g. an athletic race, the speed of an engine, the delivery of a joke, or the occurrence of a series of events.

messa in piega

A chemical hair treatment imparting or removing curliness, whose effects typically last for a period of weeks; a perm.

messa in prova

(legal) A type of sentence where convicted criminals are permitted to continue living in a community but will automatically be sent to jail if they violate certain conditions.

messaggero

A person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something.

messaggiare

(intransitive) To send and receive text messages.

messaggio

A communication, or what is communicated; any concept or information conveyed.

messe

(agriculture) A plant, grown for it, or its fruits or seeds, to be harvested as food, livestock fodder, or fuel or for any other economic purpose.

Messia

(Christianity) Jesus Christ.

messicana

A person from the country of Mexico or of Mexican descent.

messicano

Of, from, or pertaining to the country of Mexico.

Messina

A surname from Italian.

messinscena

(countable) A display of behaviour.

messo

A messenger, especially one bringing important news.

messo in scena

Intended for the stage as in a theater.

mestica

A layer of such a substance.

mestichino

In painting, a small, edge-less, more or less flexible steel blade used to mix paint on a palette and sometimes to apply paint to a surface.

mestiere

(countable, plural crafts) A branch of skilled work or trade, especially one requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill, but sometimes applied equally to any business, calling or profession; the skilled practice of a practical occupation [since the 9th century].

mesto

Not happy; sad.

mestolata

The act of scooping, or taking with a scoop or ladle; a motion with a scoop, as in dipping or shovelling.

mestolo

A cup-shaped vessel with a long handle, for dipping into and ladling out liquids; a ladle or scoop.

mestruale

Of or relating to the menses.

mestruazione

The periodic discharging of the menses, the flow of blood and cells from the lining of the uterus in unfertilized females of humans and other primates.

meta

(countable) The place set for the end of a journey, or to which something is sent; place or point aimed at.

metabolico

Of or pertaining to metamorphosis; pertaining to, or involving, change.

metabolismo

(physiology) The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.

metacognizione

(philosophy) the act of thinking about thinking.

metafisico

Of or pertaining to metaphysics.

metafora

(rhetoric) A figure of speech in which words or phrases are used with a nonliteral or figurative meaning, such as a metaphor.

metaforicamente

(manner) In a metaphorical manner; not literally; by means of metaphor.

metaforico

Pertaining to or characterized by a metaphor; figurative; symbolic.

metal

(music) A category of rock music encompassing a number of genres (including thrash metal, death metal, heavy metal, etc.) characterized by strong drumbeats and distorted guitars.

metallo

(music) A category of rock music encompassing a number of genres (including thrash metal, death metal, heavy metal, etc.) characterized by strong drumbeats and distorted guitars.

metallurgia

The science of metals; their extraction from ores, purification and alloying, heat treatment, and working.

metanfetamina

A highly addictive phenethylamine stimulant drug. Its systematic (IUPAC) name is (S)-N-methyl-1-phenylpropan-2-amine.

metano

(organic compound, uncountable) The simplest aliphatic hydrocarbon, CH₄, being a constituent of natural gas, and one of the most abundant greenhouse gases.

metanolo

(organic compound) The simplest aliphatic alcohol, CH3OH; a colourless, toxic, inflammable liquid, used as a solvent, antifreeze, in the chemical industry, and in the preparation of methylated spirit.

metapsichica

The study of alleged paranormal phenomena; psychic or occult phenomena, such as telepathy and ghosts.

metaverso

(science fiction, Internet, computing) A hypothetical future (counterpart or continuation of the) Internet, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality and physically persistent virtual space.

metempsicosi

Transmigration of the soul, especially its reincarnation after death. [from 16th c.]

meteora

Any extraterrestrial body that collides with Earth.

meteorico

Of, pertaining to, or originating from a meteor.