spalmare

to spread, to smear

verb spahl-MAH-reh Rare

Usage Note

Spalmare describes spreading a soft substance — butter on bread, cream on skin, paint on a surface. It takes avere as auxiliary. The common phrase spalmare il burro sul pane is a model sentence. Figuratively, in finance and planning, spalmare can mean 'to spread out' costs or payments over time.

Examples

"Spalma un po' di marmellata sul pane."

Natural Translation

Spread a little jam on the bread.

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