Italian–English dictionary

pessimistico

Marked by pessimism and little hopefulness; expecting the worst.

pessimo

(figurative) Extremely bad; terrible.

pestare

(transitive) To strike hard, usually repeatedly.

pestare i piedi

(transitive) To strike, beat, or press forcibly with the bottom of the foot, or by thrusting the foot downward.

peste

(informal) An annoying and bothersome person or thing.

pestello

A club-shaped, round-headed stick used in a mortar to pound, crush, rub or grind things.

pesticida

Of, pertaining to, or effective as a pesticide.

pestilenza

Any epidemic disease that is highly contagious, infectious, virulent and devastating.

pesto

A sauce, especially for pasta, originating from the Genoa region in Italy, made from basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil and cheese (usually pecorino).

petalo

(botany) One of the component parts of the corolla of a flower. It applies particularly, but not necessarily only, when the corolla consists of separate parts, that is when the petals are not connately fused. Petals are often brightly colored.

petardo

(British) A firework that makes a bang.

petizione

An appeal, petition, urgent prayer or entreaty.

peto

The state of having gas, often smelly, trapped (and when released, frequently with noise) in the digestive system of a human and some other animals; wind; and when released, a flatus, a fart.

petricore

The distinctive scent, caused by geosmin, which accompanies the first rain after a long, warm, dry spell.

petrolato

A pale yellow semisolid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum; used in lubricants and ointments.

petrolio

Petroleum-based liquid used as fuel or lubricant.

Petroncino

A en given name.

Petronio

A en given name

petroso

Abounding in, or full of, rocks; consisting of rocks.

pettegola

A small wader, Tringa totanus.

pettegolezzo

(informal) Major topic of conversation; widespread rumor; information spread behind the scenes.

pettegolo

A person who blabs; a tattler; a telltale.

pettinare

(transitive) To backcomb.

pettinatura

The style in which someone's hair has been cut and arranged.

pettine

(textiles) A hand-held tool formed similarly to a hairbrush but with bristles of wire or other rigid material. It is used principally with raw cotton, wool, hair, or other natural fibers to prepare these materials for spinning into yarn or thread on a spinning wheel, with a whorl or other hand-held spindle. The card serves to untangle, clean, remove debris from, and lay the fibers straight.

pettirosso

A European robin, Erithacus rubecula.

petto

(anatomy) The chest, or front of the human thorax.

pettorale

(sports) A rectangular piece of material, carrying a bib number, worn as identification by competitors.

petulante

Childishly irritable.

petulanza

Childish impatience or sulkiness; testiness. [from 18th c.]

petunia

A dark purple colour, like that of some petunia flowers.

pezza

(heraldry) One of the standard geometric designs placed across the center of a coat of arms, such as a pale or fess. [from 16th c.]

pezzato

Having a mottled or spotted skin or coat, dapple.

pezzettino

A small amount of something.

pezzetto

A small amount of something.

pezzo

A part of something that has been separated; a generally squat, thick, irregular piece of something, e.g. wood or stone.

pezzo grosso

(idiomatic) A very important figure, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.

pho

A Vietnamese soup with a beef base, typically served with rice noodles and optionally beef or chicken.

Phuket

An island of Phuket Province, Thailand.

pia illusione

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

piacere

Joy; pleasure.

piacevole

Pleasant, capable of giving pleasure.

piacevolmente

In a joyful manner; joyously.

piacimento

(uncountable) A state of being pleased or contented; gratification.

piaga

(countable) A cause of misery or ruin.

piaggeria

(countable) An instance of excessive praise.

piaggiare

To enhance or gratify someone's vanity by praising them.

piagnisteo

A long-drawn, high-pitched complaining cry or sound.

piagnone

(slang, derogatory) Someone whose feelings are very easily hurt, often by trivial matters.

piagnucolare

(idiomatic, often, sarcastic) To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.

piagnucolio

A low intermittent sob.

piagnucoloso

Affectionate or sentimental in an effusive, tearful, or foolish manner, especially because of drunkenness. [from 17th c.]

pialla

(countable, carpentry) A tool for smoothing wood by removing thin layers from the surface.

piallare

(transitive, carpentry) To smooth (wood) with a plane.

piallatrice

(countable, carpentry) A tool for smoothing wood by removing thin layers from the surface.

pialletto

A sort of trowel used for finishing concrete surfaces or smoothing plaster.

pianella

Any shoe with an upper covering the front of the foot but without a back flap or strap, leaving the heel exposed.

pianerottolo

A level area at the top of a flight of stairs, or connecting one flight with another.

pianetino

(astronomy) A naturally occurring solid object, which is smaller than a planet and a dwarf planet, larger than a meteoroid and not a comet, that orbits a star and often has an irregular shape.

piangente

Accompanied by tears; crying, or about to cry.

piangere

(intransitive) To shed tears; to weep. Especially in anger or sadness

piangersi addosso

(intransitive) To carry oneself in a depressed, lackadaisical manner; to give oneself up to low spirits; to pout, sulk.

pianificare

(transitive) To plan; to devise; to arrange.

pianificazione

The act of formulating of a course of action, or of drawing up plans.

pianissimo

(music) Indicating that the piece is to be played very softly.

pianista

(musician) A person who plays the piano, particularly with skill or as part of an orchestra.

piano

Intention or plot.

piano cottura

(UK, Irish, Commonwealth) The top cooking surface on a cooker; a cooktop. It typically comprises several cooking elements (often four), also known as 'rings'.

piano da lavoro

A sturdy bench or table at which manual work is done by a carpenter, machinist, etc.

piano-bar

An establishment, similar to a bar, that serves alcohol and often plays background music or shows television.

pianoforte

(music) Softly, as a dynamic in a piece of music. [from 17th c.]

pianoro

A relatively flat region of elevated terrain, particularly in reference to surrounding terrain.

pianta

A plan (with more or less detail) for the structure and functions of an artifact, building or system.

pianta aromatica

A fragrant plant or spice added to a dish to flavour it.

pianta del caffè

(countable) A serving of this beverage.

pianta grassa

A succulent plant.

pianta rampicante

Any plant (as ivy or periwinkle) that grows by creeping, especially a climbing plant of the genus Parthenocissus.

pianta strisciante

Any plant (as ivy or periwinkle) that grows by creeping, especially a climbing plant of the genus Parthenocissus.

piantaggine

Any plant of the genus Plantago, with a rosette of sessile leaves about 10 cm (4") long with a narrow part instead of a petiole, and with a spike inflorescence with the flower spacing varying widely among the species. See also psyllium.

piantagione

A small forest with minimal undergrowth.

piantagrane

Causing mischief; injurious.

piantare

(transitive) To cast off capriciously or unfeelingly, as a lover; to deceive in love.

piantatoio

A tool with a handle on one end and a point on the other, used in the garden to poke holes in preparation for planting seeds, bulbs, etc.

pianto

A shedding of tears; the act of crying.

piantonare

(transitive) To keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain from acts of violence, or the like.

piantone

A person who, or thing that, protects or watches over something.

pianura

An expanse of land with relatively low relief and few trees, especially a grassy expanse.

piastra

A semiportable stove.

piastrella

A paving stone; a flagstone.

piastrellare

(transitive) To cover with tiles.

piastrina

(obsolete) That which is, or might be, determined, by a throw of the die; hazard; chance.

piattabanda

(architectural element) A horizontal structural beam spanning an opening, such as between the uprights of a door or a window, and which supports the wall above.

piattaforma

A raised floor for any purpose, e.g. for workmen during construction, or formerly for military cannon.

piattaforma di trivellazione

The special apparatus used for drilling wells.

piattina

(carpentry, machinery) A band, plate, or loop of metal for clasping and holding timbers or parts of a machine.

piattino

A small shallow dish to hold a cup and catch drips.

piatto

(percussion instrument) A concave plate of metal, usually brass or bronze, that produces a sharp, ringing sound when struck: played either in pairs, by striking them together, or singly by striking with a drumstick or the like.

piatto fondo

A vessel such as a plate for holding or serving food, often flat with a depressed region in the middle.

piatto forte

(figurative) An especially significant or interesting detail or event or period of time.

piattola

A parasitic insect, Pediculus humanus humanus (syn. Pediculus humanus corporis), that infests the body and clothes of humans and feeds on blood.

piazza

An open space, particularly a city square, market square, or courtyard.

piazza pulita

The act of clearing or something (such as a space) cleared.

piazzaforte

A fortified defensive structure stationed with troops.

piazzale

(aviation) The paved area of an airport, especially the area where aircraft park away from a terminal.

piazzamento

The act of placing or putting in place; the act of locating or positioning; the state of being placed.

piazzare

(ergative) To earn a given spot in a competition; to rank at a certain position ((often followed by an ordinal)).

piazzista

A particular type of stock broker or trader.

picca

Violent hatred leading to active opposition; active enmity; energetic dislike.

piccante

(of food) Spicy, pungent, piquant, as some chilis and other spices are.

piccardo

Of, from or relating to Picardy, a cultural region part of the administrative region of Hauts-de-France, France.

piccato

Annoyed, usually mildly and temporarily, especially by an offense to one's pride or honor.

picche

(obsolete)

picchetto

A stake driven into the ground.

picchiare

(intransitive) To make sudden loud noises, and often repeatedly, especially by exploding or hitting something.

picchiare in testa

(intransitive) To strike internally, as if hit by a hammer.

picchiata

(aviation) Aerial descent with the nose pointed down.

picchiettatura

An uneven patch of color or discoloration.

picchiettio

(onomatopoeia) Any sharp sound.

picchio

Any bird of species-rich family Picidae, with a strong pointed beak suitable for pecking holes in wood.

piccino

Very small.

picciolo

A stem or peduncle, as in certain barnacles and crinoids.

picciona

(countable) One of several birds of the family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes.

piccionaia

An outbuilding used for housing and breeding pigeons; a dovecote.

piccioncina

Any small parrot from one of the nine species within the genus Agapornis. Sometimes they are kept as cage birds and are noted for their affection towards each other.

piccioncini

Any small parrot from one of the nine species within the genus Agapornis. Sometimes they are kept as cage birds and are noted for their affection towards each other.

piccioncino

Any small parrot from one of the nine species within the genus Agapornis. Sometimes they are kept as cage birds and are noted for their affection towards each other.

piccione

(countable) A pigeon, especially one smaller in size and white-colored; a bird (often arbitrarily called either a pigeon or a dove or both) of more than 300 species of the family Columbidae.

piccione tomboliere

A variety of the domestic pigeon remarkable for its habit of tumbling, or turning somersaults, during its flight.

picco

The highest value reached by some quantity in a time period.

piccola

Any of certain lizards of the genus Sceloporus.

piccola insenatura

(British) A small inlet, often saltwater, leading to the sea or to the main channel of a river, especially a river estuary.

piccoletto

(by extension) The smallest child in the family.

piccoli

(often as if a plural noun) Offspring, especially the immature offspring of animals.

piccolissimo

Very small.

piccolo

Any very young animal, especially a vertebrate; many species have specific names for their babies, such as kittens for the babies of cats, puppies for the babies of dogs, and chicks for the babies of birds. See Category:Baby animals for more.

piccolo cruccio

(colloquial) Something that is personally annoying; a personal dislike.

piccolo impertinente

(colloquial) A young and cheeky or presumptuous person; often with a connotation of ignorance via inexperience. [from 1670s]

piccolo piccolo

(informal) Very small; tiny.

piccone

An agricultural tool whose blades are at right angles to the body, similar to a pickaxe.

piccosità

The state of being peevish.

picnic

The meal eaten at such a gathering.

pidgin

(linguistics) An amalgamation of two disparate languages, used by two populations having no common language as a lingua franca to communicate with each other, lacking formalized grammar and having a small, utilitarian vocabulary and no native speakers.

pidocchio

A small parasitic wingless insect of the order Psocodea.

pidocchio del pube

(in plural crabs, informal) An infestation of pubic lice (Pthirus pubis).

pidocchioso

Infested with lice.

piè

(computing) A line of information printed at the bottom of a page to identify the contents or number pages. (Compare foot in printing.)

pié pagina

The base or bottom of anything.

piede

A biological structure found in many animals that is used for locomotion and that is frequently a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg.

piede di corvo

(weaponry) A metal object, usually small, with spikes arranged so that, when thrown onto the ground, one always faces up as a threat to pedestrians, horses, and vehicles (also used as a heraldic charge).

piede di porco

A mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.