avvolto

Avvolto is the past participle of the Italian verb avvolgere and also an adjective meaning wrapped, enveloped, or enclosed. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it describes: avvolto (masc. sing.), avvolta (fem. sing.), avvolti (masc. plur.), avvolte (fem. plur.). It is used for objects that have been wrapped or for people or things surrounded by something.

Origin and form: The verb avvolgere comes from Latin involvere, with the modern Italian prefix av-, which has produced the form avvolgere. The past participle avvolto retains the sense “wrapped” and can function as a descriptive adjective or in compound verb constructions (e.g., essere avvolto).

Usage examples: A wrapped item: un pacco avvolto in carta stagnola. A person covered: una mano avvolta in una benda. In metaphorical use, it can describe being surrounded or enveloped by non-physical conditions: “avvolto nel silenzio” (enveloped in silence) or “avvolto dalle luci della scena” (surrounded by stage lights).

Related terms: avvolgere (to wrap), involucro (wrapper or envelope). The term is common in everyday Italian, packaging labels, cooking, and descriptive writing.