il foro
hole
Definition & meaning
Foro is a masculine Italian noun with several meanings:
- A hole or opening, especially one made by piercing, drilling, or wear: un foro nel muro (“a hole in the wall”).
- A forum or public square, especially in ancient Rome; by extension, a place for public discussion.
- The legal profession or the world of law, particularly in expressions concerning lawyers and courts.
- In technical contexts, a bore or aperture, such as the opening in a part of a machine.
The same spelling can also be a verb form: foro means “I pierce” or “I drill,” from forare .
Grammar & Word origin
As a noun, foro is masculine; its plural is fori. The “hole” sense is related to forare , “to pierce” or “to drill.” The “forum” and legal senses come from Latin forum, meaning a public square or place of business and judgment.
As a verb, foro is the first-person singular present of forare : “I pierce/drill.” The form can also occur in the present subjunctive, depending on context.
Synonyms & antonyms
For the sense “hole,” possible synonyms include buco , a general everyday word for a hole, and apertura , a broader term for an opening. Cavità means a hollow or cavity and does not necessarily imply that something has been pierced.
There is no exact antonym for foro meaning “hole.” For the legal sense, tribunale refers specifically to a court, whereas foro can refer more broadly to the legal profession or legal sphere.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
C'è un piccolo foro nella maglietta.noun
There is a small hole in the t-shirt.
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