approfondire

Approfondire is an Italian transitive verb meaning to go into detail about a subject, to study something in depth, or to deepen one’s understanding. It is commonly used with topics such as temi, questioni, ricerche, testi, or fenomeni, and it can also indicate the intensification of analysis or investigation, as in approfondire una questione or approfondire un argomento. The related noun approfondimento denotes an in-depth study or deeper coverage.

Etymology and semantics: the term derives from the notion of making something deeper and is historically linked to the Latin profundus (deep). It appears in forms aimed at increasing depth, such as aprofundire in older usage, and evolved in Italian to approfondire. The word preserves the sense of depth, whether in literal or metaphorical contexts.

Grammar and usage: approfondire is a regular -ire verb with the -isc stem in the present tense, giving io approfondisco, tu approfondisci, lui approfondisce, noi approfondiamo, voi approfondite, loro approfondiscono. It forms past tenses with avere: ho approfondito, hai approfondito, ha approfondito, etc. The present participle is approfondendo; the past participle is approfondito. An adverb is approfonditamente and the noun is approfondimento.

Common usage notes: typical collocations include approfondire un tema, un’analisi, una ricerca, una teoria, o una questione. It is often contrasted with less thorough terms like studiare shallowly or esaminare superficially. In academic and journalistic contexts, approfondire signals thorough, systematic inquiry and critical examination.