surriscaldare

to overheat

verb soor-rees-kahl-DAH-reh Rare

Usage Note

Surriscaldare combines sur- (from French sur-, 'over') and riscaldare ('to heat'). It is used literally for engines, appliances, or the planet (il pianeta si sta surriscaldando — 'the planet is overheating') and figuratively for overheated debates or passions. The auxiliary is essere in the intransitive.

Examples

"Il motore si è surriscaldato per il traffico."

Natural Translation

The engine overheated because of the traffic.

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