guasto

breakdown, malfunction

noun GWAH-stoh Rare

Also means

damage, fault

Usage Note

Guasto as a noun means a technical failure or breakdown (guasto al motore — engine failure); as an adjective, guasto means broken, spoiled, or rotten (il latte è guasto — the milk has gone off). The dual noun/adjective function is common and context-dependent. The verb guastare means to break or to spoil.

Examples

"C'è un guasto alla linea telefonica."

Natural Translation

There is a fault on the telephone line.

Literal Translation

There-is a breakdown to-the line telephone.

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