Italian–English dictionary

polimata

A person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge.

polimate

A person with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge.

Polinesia

A continental region of Oceania, including Easter Island, Hawaii, New Zealand, and most of the islands between them.

polinesiana

A person from Polynesia.

polinesiano

A person from Polynesia.

polio

(economics) Pertaining to the number of sellers in a market.

poliomielite

(pathology) Acute infection by the poliovirus, especially of the motor neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis and sometimes deformity.

polirematica

A short written or spoken expression.

polis

(historical) A Greek city-state.

polistirene

(organic chemistry) A vinylic polymer of styrene, CH2CHphenyl.

polistirolo espanso

Expanded polystyrene foam, such as is used in cups and packaging.

politecnico

Institution of higher education (typically accepting students from the age of about 17 or 18, depending on country, but in some exceptional cases able to take younger students) where subjects are studied and researched in depth and degrees are offered.

politeismo

The belief in the existence of multiple gods.

politica

One engaged in politics, especially an elected or appointed government official.

politicamente

In a political manner.

politicizzazione

(politics) The state of being (or process of becoming) politicized

politico

Concerning or relating to politics, the art and process of governing.

polizia

(North America, &, _, historical) A department of local (usually municipal) government responsible for general law enforcement.

poliziotta

(informal) A police officer or prison guard.

poliziotto

(British, Ireland, Australia, slang) A police officer.

polizza

A document, originally sealed; a formal statement or official memorandum. (Now obsolete except with certain qualifying words; bill of health, bill of sale etc.)

polka

A lively dance originating in Bohemia.

pollaio

A basket, pen or enclosure for birds or small animals.

pollame

A bird hunted or kept for food, grouped into landfowl (order Galliformes), also called gamefowl, and waterfowl (order Anseriformes: ducks, geese, swans, etc.), which together form the clade Galloanserae.

pollastra

(colloquial) An attractive, young woman.

pollastro

A young male chicken.

pollice

The short thick digit of the hand that for humans has the most mobility and can be made to oppose (moved to touch) all of the other fingers.

Pollicina

A fairy tale about a thumb-sized girl.

polline

A fine, granular substance produced in flowers.

polline d'api

Bee pollen with added honey and bee secretions, made and stored in brood cells by forager bees, and used as food for worker bees and larvae.

pollo

(idiomatic) Someone or something that provides income or livelihood, especially as an exploited source.

pollo d’India

(countable) A bird in the genus Meleagris with a fan-shaped tail and wattled neck, especially the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo, now domesticated).

pollone

A newly sprouted leaf or blossom that has not yet unfolded.

Polluce

(Greek god) One of the Dioscuri, son of Zeus and Leda, brother of Castor.

polluzione

(now, archaic) The ejaculation of semen outside of sexual intercourse, especially a nocturnal emission. [from 14th c.]

polmonare

(anatomy) Pertaining to, having, or affecting the lungs.

polmone

(anatomy) A biological organ of vertebrates that controls breathing and oxygenates the blood.

polmonite

Inflammation of the lungs caused by viruses, bacteria or other infectious microorganisms.

polo

(uncountable) A ball game where two teams of players on horseback use long-handled mallets to propel the ball along the ground and into their opponent's goal.

Polonia

A country in Central Europe. Official name: Republic of Poland. Capital and largest city: Warsaw.

polonio

A rare, highly radioactive chemical element (symbol Po) with atomic number 84.

polpa

(uncountable) Any relatively thick, solid part of a fruit, nut etc. [from 15th c.]

polpaccio

The muscle in the back of the leg below the knee.

polpetta

A ball of minced or ground meat, seasoned and cooked.

polpettone

A dish of ground meat (usually made from ground beef, although lamb, pork, veal, venison, poultry and seafood are also used) formed into a loaf shape, mixed with egg and breadcrumbs, then baked or smoked, and usually served in slices.

polpo

(countable, strictly) A mollusc from genus Octopus.

polposo

Of, related to, or resembling flesh.

polputo

Having a pleasing shape, pleasant to look at.

polsino

The end of a shirt sleeve that covers the wrist.

polso

A normally regular beat felt when arteries near the skin (for example, at the neck or wrist) are depressed, caused by the heart pumping blood through them.

poltergeist

(parapsychology) An unseen ghost which makes noises and causes disruption, especially by causing physical objects to move or fly about.

poltiglia

Any mucilaginous substance; or a mucus-like substance which exudes from the bodies of certain animals, such as snails or slugs.

poltrire

(intransitive) To relax; to spend time lazily; to stand, sit, or recline, in an indolent manner.

poltrona

A chair with supports for the arms or elbows.

poltrone

A young horse or other equine, especially just after birth or less than a year old.

polvere

(intransitive, often, figurative) To fall apart; to disintegrate.

polvere da sparo

An explosive mixture of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), charcoal and sulfur; formerly used in gunnery but now mostly used in fireworks.

polvere pirica

An explosive mixture of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), charcoal and sulfur; formerly used in gunnery but now mostly used in fireworks.

polverizzare

(transitive) To crush to pieces; to pulverize.

polveroso

Covered with dust.

pomata

(chiefly, UK) A soothing ointment.

pomatica

A widely cultivated plant, Solanum lycopersicum, having edible fruit.

pomeridiano

(used after the hour) In the 12-hour period from noon to midnight (the latter half of the day) when using the 12-hour clock.

pomeriggio

The part of the day from noon or lunchtime until sunset, evening, or suppertime or 6pm.

pomfo

A raised, longitudinal wound, usually purple, on the surface of flesh caused by a stroke of a rod or whip; a welt.

pomice

A light, porous type of pyroclastic igneous rock, formed during explosive volcanic eruptions when liquid lava is ejected into water or air as a froth containing masses of gas bubbles, which are frozen into the rock as the lava solidifies.

pomiciare

(intransitive) Of a person: to caress, fondle, or pet another person; of two people: to caress, fondle, or pet each other; also, to have sexual intercourse; to make love.

pomiciata

(sex) The act of kissing, stroking, etc., a person in a sexual manner.

pomidoro

A widely cultivated plant, Solanum lycopersicum, having edible fruit.

pommarola

A widely cultivated plant, Solanum lycopersicum, having edible fruit.

pomo

A tree of the genus Malus; especially Malus domestica which is cultivated for its edible fruit; the apple tree. [from 15th c.]

pomo di terra

A plant of species Solanum tuberosum or its edible starchy tuber.

pomodoro

A widely cultivated plant, Solanum lycopersicum, having edible fruit.

pompa

A pageant; a colourful show or display, as in a pageant.

pompare

(transitive) To remove a liquid or gas by means of suction.

Pompei

A city and commune in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania, Italy.

Pompeo

(historical) Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic.

pompiere

(firefighting) A person who has been trained to put out fires.

pomposo

(of a person, their language or writing) showy in speech and given to using flowery or elaborate terms; grandiloquent; pompous

poncho

A simple garment, made from a rectangle of cloth, with a slit in the middle for the head.

poncio

A simple garment, made from a rectangle of cloth, with a slit in the middle for the head.

ponderare

(intransitive) To communicate to oneself in one's mind, to try to find a solution to a problem.

ponte

(dentistry) The tooth that supports a denture or bridge.

ponte levatoio

A hinged bridge which can be raised (to prevent its being crossed, as across a moat, or to allow watercraft to travel beneath it).

ponteggio

A structure made of scaffolding for workers to stand on while working on a building.

ponticello

(music, lutherie) The piece, on string instruments, that supports the strings from the sounding board.

pontificato

(usually) The office of the pope of Rome, who is the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

pontificio

Of or pertaining to a pontiff.

pontile

A structure of wood or stone extended into the sea to influence the current or tide, or to protect a harbor or beach.

pony

A young or little horse; foal; pony.

pool

(by extension, computing) A set of resources that are kept ready to use.

popcorn

(chiefly, uncountable) A snack food made from corn or maize kernels popped by dry heating.

pope

A religious clergyman (clergywoman, clergyperson) who is trained to perform services or sacrifices at a church or temple.

popolano

(archaic) Of low social standing or rank; vulgar, common.

popolare

Of, or relating to people or society at the local level, particularly in politics, social movements, etc.; of the grass roots.

popolare con

(transitive) To stock with people or inhabitants; to fill as with people; to populate.

popolarità

The quality or state of being popular; especially, the state of being widely liked or in favor with the people at large.

popolarmente

In a popular manner.

popolazione

The mass of a community as distinguished from a special class (elite); the commonalty; the populace; the vulgar; the common crowd; the citizens.

popolino

(archaic) Of low social standing or rank; vulgar, common.

popolo

The common people; the commonality.

popolosa

Having a large population.

popoloso

Having a large population.

poppa

(nautical) The rear part (after end) of a ship or other vessel.

poppare

(transitive) To give suck to; to nurse at the breast, udder, or dugs.

populazione

A count of the number of residents within a political or geographical boundary such as a town, a nation or the world.

porca

(archaeology) The wall of earth at the edge of an excavation.

porcellana

(usually, uncountable) A hard white translucent ceramic, originally made by firing kaolin, quartz, and feldspar at high temperatures but now also inclusive of similar artificial materials; also often (figurative) such a material as a symbol of the fragility, elegance, etc. traditionally associated with porcelain goods.

porcellino

A young pig.

porcellino di terra

Any of the terrestrial isopod crustaceans of suborder Oniscidea, which have a rigid, segmented exoskeleton, often being capable of rolling into a ball, and feed only on dead plant matter, usually living in damp, dark places, such as under stones or bark.

porcello

A young pig.

porcheria

Slimy mud, sludge.

porciglione

Any of several birds in the family Rallidae.

porcile

A pen or enclosure for swine.

porco

(countable) Any of several mammalian species of the family Suidae, having cloven hooves, bristles and a snout adapted for digging; especially the domesticated animal Sus domesticus.

porco Dio

(blasphemous) An expletive.

porcodio

(blasphemous) An expletive.

porcospino

Any of several rodents of either of the taxonomic families Hystricidae (Old World porcupines) or Erethizontidae (New World porcupines), both from the infraorder Hystricognathi, noted for their sharp spines or quills, which are raised when the animal is attacked or surprised.

porno

(uncountable, informal) Pornography. [from mid-20th c.]

pornografa

One who is involved in the creation or dissemination of pornography. [from mid-19th c.]

pornografia

(uncountable, informal) Pornography. [from mid-20th c.]

pornografico

Containing an explicit depiction of sexual activity.

pornografo

One who is involved in the creation or dissemination of pornography. [from mid-19th c.]

poro

A tiny opening in the skin.

poroso

Full of tiny pores that allow fluids or gasses to pass through.

porre

To place down in a position of rest, or in a horizontal position.

porre mano

(transitive) To deal with (a difficult situation or person); to accept (facts, reality, etc.) even when undesirable.

porre sotto copyright

(transitive, intransitive) To obtain or secure a copyright for some literary or other artistic work.

porridge

A dish made of grain or legumes, milk or water, heated and stirred until thick and typically eaten for breakfast.

porridge di mais

(Western Hemisphere) Coarsely ground hominy which is boiled and eaten, primarily in the Southern United States.

porro

A vegetable of variety Allium ampeloprasum, having edible leaves and an onion-like bulb but with a milder flavour than the onion.

porta

(architecture) A portal of entry into a building, room, or vehicle, typically consisting of a rigid plane movable on a hinge. It may have a handle to help open and close, a latch to hold it closed, and a lock that ensures it cannot be opened without a key.

porta bacinella

A stand for a washbowl and jug.

porta bebè

(weapon) An instrument for throwing stones or other missiles, consisting of a short strap with two strings fastened to its ends, or with a string fastened to one end and a light stick to the other.

porta catino

A stand for a washbowl and jug.

portabile

Able to be worn.

portabilità

The quality of being portable.

portablocco

(computing) A buffer in memory where the user can store data temporarily while transferring it from one place within an application to another or between applications.

portacenere

A receptacle for ash and butts from cigarettes and cigars.

portachiavi

An ornamental piece holding such a chain or ring.

portafiammiferi

A small folded sheet of cardboard containing rows of cardboard matches, generally with a striker on the outside.

portafoglio

(figuratively) One's personal budget or financial capacity; the amount one can afford.

portafortuna

(idiomatic) A bringer of good luck.

portale

(computing) The normal portal page to a website.

portalettere

(North America) Someone who delivers mail to, and/or collects mail from, residential or commercial addresses, or from public mailboxes.

portamento

One's posture, demeanor, or manner.

portantina

(countable, obsolete) A bed, especially a pile of straw with blankets &c. used as a bed.

portare

(transitive) To carry out successfully; to accomplish. [from 14th c.]

portare a cavalcioni

(transitive) To carry (someone) on the back or shoulders.

portare a compimento

(transitive) To put an end to; to destroy.