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spianare

to flatten; to level

verb spyah-NAH-reh Rare
Food & Drink Cooking

Also means

to roll out (dough)

Usage Note

Spianare literally means to make flat — spianare la pasta (to roll out the dough), spianare una collina (to flatten a hill). The idiom spianare la strada a qualcuno means 'to smooth the way for someone', removing obstacles. Conjugates regularly (-are). The related noun is spianata (an esplanade or a flat piece of terrain).

Examples

"Spiana la pasta con il mattarello."

Natural Translation

Roll out the dough with the rolling pin.

Literal Translation

Flatten the dough with the rolling-pin.

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