Italian edit

Etymology edit

From s- +‎ fiore, compare French effleurer.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /sfjoˈra.re/
  • Rhymes: -are
  • Hyphenation: sfio‧rà‧re
  • (file)

Verb edit

sfioràre (first-person singular present sfióro, first-person singular past historic sfiorài, past participle sfioràto, auxiliary avére) (transitive)

  1. to brush over, to touch lightly
    Synonym: rasentare
    • 1973, “Irene”, in Alice non lo sa, performed by Francesco De Gregori:
      Irene alla finestra e tanta gente per la strada / Il mondo passa accanto a lei e non la sfiora mai / Con le mani aperte, il cuore aperto Irene guarda giù / Irene alla finestra e tanta gente al suo suicidio
      Irene at the window and so many people in the street / The world passes by her and never touches her / With open hands and open heart, Irene looks down / Irene at the window and so many people at her suicide
  2. (figurative) to skim over (a topic)
  3. to nearly achieve (but not succeed in)
  4. to be on the verge of

Conjugation edit

Related terms edit

See also edit

Anagrams edit