rotta

route, course

noun ROT-tah Rare

Origin: From Latin rupta (broken [road]), feminine past participle of rumpere.

Also means

(adjective) broken, smashed

Usage Note

Rotta as a noun means a navigational or flight route (rotta di collisione — collision course; fuori rotta — off course). As an adjective (feminine of rotto) it means 'broken': la sedia è rotta. The two are homophones but different words. The nautical sense is the primary dictionary entry.

Examples

"La nave ha cambiato rotta all'improvviso."

Natural Translation

The ship changed course suddenly.

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