dilagare

to spread; to overflow; to flood

verb dee-lah-GAH-reh Rare

Origin: From di- + lago (lake) — to spill like a lake

Also means

to run rampant

Usage Note

Dilagare is an intransitive verb and takes essere as auxiliary in compound tenses. It describes water overflowing (il fiume dilaga) but more commonly, in figurative use, a phenomenon spreading out of control — la corruzione dilaga (corruption is spreading unchecked). The image is vivid: something flooding like a lake bursting its banks.

Examples

"La violenza dilaga nelle periferie."

Natural Translation

Violence is spreading through the suburbs.

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