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amolar

sharpen

Word: amolar

Meaning: "Amolar" is a Spanish verb with a couple of related meanings depending on the context:

  1. To sharpen (a blade or tool):
    This meaning refers to the action of making something sharp, typically a knife, blade, or any cutting tool. It involves grinding or honing the edge to improve its cutting effectiveness.

  2. To annoy or bother (colloquial usage):
    In informal or colloquial Spanish, especially in some Latin American countries, "amolar" means to bother, annoy, or irritate someone. For example, "¡No me amoles!" means "Don't bother/annoy me!"


Parts of the word:

  • The verb likely comes from the noun mola, which historically referred to a grindstone or a sharpener. The prefix "a-" in Spanish verbs sometimes can form verbs indicating an action related to the root noun.

Synonyms:

  • For to sharpen: afilar, afilado, afiladura (nouns related to sharpening), afilachar (less common).
  • For to annoy: molestar, fastidiar, irritar, importunar.

Antonyms:

  • For to sharpen: desafilado(a) (adjective meaning "blunt" or "unsharpened").
  • For to annoy: gustar (to please), alegrar (to make happy), or simply the absence of annoyance.

Examples:

  • Sharpen:
    "Tengo que amolar el cuchillo porque está muy desafilado."
    ("I have to sharpen the knife because it's very blunt.")

  • Annoy:
    "Deja de amolar al perro que se va a poner nervioso."
    ("Stop bothering the dog or it's going to get nervous.")


Summary:
"Amolar" primarily means "to sharpen" when talking about tools but can also mean "to annoy" in informal conversations. Its meaning is determined by context.

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Examples

¿Por qué necesitas amolar las tijeras esta tarde?verb

Why do you need to sharpen the scissors this afternoon?

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