svolta

turning point

noun ZVOHL-tah Less Common

Origin: From svoltare (to turn), from Latin volvere

Also means

turn

Usage Note

Svolta carries two senses: a physical turn in a road (svoltare a destra — turn right) and, more commonly in modern usage, a decisive turning point or breakthrough (una svolta storica — a historic turning point). The figurative sense dominates in journalism and politics. Do not confuse with volta (time, instance; e.g. una volta — once).

Examples

"La scoperta ha rappresentato una svolta importante."

Natural Translation

The discovery represented an important turning point.

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