Tirare

Tirare is an Italian verb with a broad range of meanings, most commonly translated as “to pull” or “to draw.” It is also used in contexts such as shooting, drawing a card, or moving something toward the speaker. As a regular verb of the first conjugation, it follows the typical -are pattern in its various tenses and moods.

Etymology and cognates: Tirare derives from Latin tirāre and has cognates in other Romance languages, including French tirer and Spanish tirar. The term retains its core sense of applying force to move or propel something, while expanding into figurative uses.

Conjugation and grammar: Tirare is a regular -are verb. Present indicative forms are io tiro, tu tiri, lui/lei tira, noi tiriamo, voi tirate, loro tirano. The passato prossimo is formed with avere (ho tirato). Other common forms include imperfect tiravo, future tirerò, present subjunctive tiri, and imperative tira (tu), tiriamo, tirate. The participle is tirato and the gerund is tirando.

Senses and usage:

- Physical pulling or dragging: Ho tirato la corda per chiudere la scatola. (I pulled the rope to close the box.)

- Drawing or firing a weapon in firearms contexts: ha tirato un colpo. (he fired a shot.)

- Shooting or throwing in sports: tirare il pallone in porta. (to shoot the ball into the goal.)

- Drawing a card or item: tirare una carta dal mazzo. (to draw a card from the deck.)

- Figurate or idiomatic uses: tirare le somme (to sum up), tirare avanti (to carry on), tirare dritto (to go straight ahead), tirare fuori (to pull out or to produce).

Notes: Tirare is highly versatile and common in everyday Italian. Its meaning is often determined by the object or prepositional phrases it combines with, making context essential for interpretation.