abboccare

Etymology

From a- +‎ bocca (“mouth”) +‎ -are.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ab.bokˈka.re/
• Rhymes: -are
• Hyphenation: ab‧boc‧cà‧re

Verb

abboccàre (first-person singular present abbócco, first-person singular past historic abboccài, past participle abboccàto, auxiliary avére)

1. (transitive, rare) to bite or take with the mouth

   il pesce ha abboccato l'esca

   the fish took the bait (with the mouth)

2. (intransitive, also figurative, by extension) to take the bait [auxiliary avere]

   il pesce abbocca

   the fish takes the bait

   non ci avrei dovuto cascare, ma ho abboccato

   I should not have fallen for it, but I took the bait

3. (transitive, rare) to fill up (a glass, jar, etc.) to the top
4. (transitive) to join or connect (tubes, ducts, etc.)
5. (intransitive) to be joined or connected (of tubes, ducts, etc.) [auxiliary avere]

   i tubi abboccano

   the tubes are connected

6. (transitive, by extension) to connect two organs (in surgery)

See also

• abboccato