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picchiare

to beat

verb peek-KYAH-reh Rare

Origin: Of imitative (onomatopoeic) origin, from the sound of striking.

Also means

to hit

Usage Note

Picchiare can mean to hit a person, to knock on a door (picchiare alla porta), or, as a noun-verb colloquialism, of an engine 'knocking'. The reflexive picchiarsi means to fight each other. Past participle: picchiato; auxiliary: avere.

Examples

"Qualcuno sta picchiando alla porta."

Natural Translation

Someone is knocking at the door.

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