braccio

See also: bracciò

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian braccio. Doublet of brachium.

Noun

braccio (plural braccia)

1. An Italian measure of length, varying from half a yard to a yard.

Anagrams

• boracic

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbrat.t͡ʃo/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Audio (un braccio):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -attʃo
• Hyphenation: bràc‧cio

Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin brachium, bracchium, from Ancient Greek βραχίων (brakhíōn). Compare Sicilian vrazzu.

Noun

braccio m (plural (in most meanings) braccia f or (in the figurative meanings "branch (of a railway/railroad or river), wing (of a building), arm (of a cross, crane, of scales), strait, isthmus") bracci m, diminutive braccìno or braccétto, augmentative braccióne, diminutive-augmentative bracciòtto (“chubby little arm”))

1. (anatomy) arm

   Synonym: membro

2. (anatomy) upper arm

   Coordinate term: avambraccio (“forearm”)

3. (unit of measure, nautical) fathom
4. (figurative) work, effort
5. (figurative) power, faculty, authority
6. (geography) narrow stretch of land or sea, joining larger bodies

   braccio di mare ― strait (literally, “narrow stretch of sea”)

   braccio di terra ― isthmus (literally, “narrow stretch of land”)

7. (mechanics) arm (of a crane, of a cross, of scales, of a candelabrum, etc.)
8. branch (of a river or railway/railroad)
9. wing (of a building)

Usage notes

• In senses 1 through 4, the plural form used is braccia, derived from Latin bracchia, the ancient neuter plural of bracchium. In the remaining senses the plural is derived regularly from the Italian masculine plural ending -i and is thus bracci.

Derived terms

• viola da braccio
• abbracciare

Related terms

• avambraccio
• braccetto
• bracciatura
• lira da braccio

Etymology 2

Verb

braccio

1. first-person singular present indicative of bracciare

Anagrams

• Baricco, barocci, broccai, broccia, ribocca