picchiare
to beat
verb peek-KYAH-reh Rare
Origin: Of imitative (onomatopoeic) origin, from the sound of striking.
Also means
to hit
Usage Note
Picchiare can mean to hit a person, to knock on a door (picchiare alla porta), or, as a noun-verb colloquialism, of an engine 'knocking'. The reflexive picchiarsi means to fight each other. Past participle: picchiato; auxiliary: avere.
Examples
"Qualcuno sta picchiando alla porta."
Natural Translation
Someone is knocking at the door.
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