mòrdere
v.tr.
1 to bite* into (sthg.), to bite* ( anche fig.): il cane mi ha morso il braccio, the dog has bitten me in the arm ( o has bitten my arm); mordere una mela, to bite into an apple // c’è un vento che morde, there is a biting wind // mordere il freno, ( fig.) to strain at the leash // mordere la polvere, ( fig.) to bite the dust // mi sarei morso le dita per non esserci andato, I could have kicked myself for not going // mordersi le labbra, la lingua, ( fig.) to bite one’s lip, one’s tongue: appena detto questo mi sarei morso la lingua, as soon as I said it I could have bitten my tongue // un gatto che si morde la coda, ( fig.) a vicious circle
2 ( fam.) ( pungere) to bite*, to sting*: mi ha morso una zanzara, I’ve been bitten by a mosquito
3 ( far presa) to grip: l’ancora morse il fondo, the anchor gripped the bottom; i cingoli mordono meglio delle ruote, caterpillar-tracks grip better than wheels
4 ( intaccare, corrodere) to bite* into (sthg.), to eat* into (sthg.), to corrode: l’acido morde il metallo, acid eats into metal; la lima morse il ferro, the file bit into the iron.
1 to bite* into (sthg.), to bite* ( anche fig.): il cane mi ha morso il braccio, the dog has bitten me in the arm ( o has bitten my arm); mordere una mela, to bite into an apple // c’è un vento che morde, there is a biting wind // mordere il freno, ( fig.) to strain at the leash // mordere la polvere, ( fig.) to bite the dust // mi sarei morso le dita per non esserci andato, I could have kicked myself for not going // mordersi le labbra, la lingua, ( fig.) to bite one’s lip, one’s tongue: appena detto questo mi sarei morso la lingua, as soon as I said it I could have bitten my tongue // un gatto che si morde la coda, ( fig.) a vicious circle
2 ( fam.) ( pungere) to bite*, to sting*: mi ha morso una zanzara, I’ve been bitten by a mosquito
3 ( far presa) to grip: l’ancora morse il fondo, the anchor gripped the bottom; i cingoli mordono meglio delle ruote, caterpillar-tracks grip better than wheels
4 ( intaccare, corrodere) to bite* into (sthg.), to eat* into (sthg.), to corrode: l’acido morde il metallo, acid eats into metal; la lima morse il ferro, the file bit into the iron.
Redazione De Agostini
