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deteriorare

to deteriorate

verb deh-teh-ryoh-RAH-reh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Conditions

Origin: From Latin deteriorare, to make worse.

Also means

to worsen

Usage Note

Deteriorare can be transitive ('the damp deteriorated the walls') or, more commonly, used reflexively as deteriorarsi ('the situation deteriorated'). In compound tenses it takes avere when transitive and essere when reflexive: le condizioni si sono deteriorate. A common false-cognate trap: deteriorare does not mean 'to deter'.

Examples

"Il cibo si deteriora rapidamente al caldo."

Natural Translation

Food deteriorates quickly in the heat.

Literal Translation

The food itself-deteriorates quickly in-the heat.

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