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verb

cullare

rock

Definition & meaning

Cullare means to rock or lull, especially by moving someone gently back and forth to help them sleep.

Figuratively, it can mean to cradle or soothe, or to let oneself dwell on a pleasant hope or illusion. In the reflexive form, cullarsi , it can mean “to indulge in” or “to rest comfortably in” such thoughts.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Cullare is a regular, transitive -are verb.
  • It is related to culla , meaning “cradle.”

Synonyms & antonyms

  • dondolare — “to rock” or “sway”; it emphasizes the movement rather than the soothing purpose.
  • ninnare — “to lull to sleep,” especially a child; it is less common.
  • rassicurare — “to reassure”; it can overlap with the figurative sense but does not imply rocking.

A contextual opposite is svegliare , “to wake,” when cullare means rocking someone to sleep.

Common phrases & collocations

  • cullare un bambino — to rock a baby.
  • cullare una speranza — to cherish a hope.
  • cullarsi nell’illusione — to indulge in an illusion or comforting false belief.

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Examples

Io cullavo il bambino.verb

I was rocking the baby.

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