portata

course (of a meal)

noun pohr-TAH-tah Less Common

Origin: from 'portare' (to carry)

Also means

capacity

Usage Note

Portata is best known as a course in a meal (il pranzo aveva quattro portate) but also means capacity, range, or scope, as in alla portata di tutti (within everyone's reach or affordable). The two senses share the idea of what is 'carried' or 'brought'.

Examples

"La seconda portata era pesce."

Natural Translation

The second course was fish.

Literal Translation

The second course was fish.

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