riscaldare

Riscaldare is an Italian verb that means to heat up again or to warm something. It is used for physical heating of food or drinks, as well as for warming spaces, objects, or even engines. In a broader sense, riscaldare can also be used metaphorically to revive interest, enthusiasm, or relationships, as in rekindling tensions, warmth, or dialogue.

Etymology and form: The verb is formed from the prefix ri- meaning “again” and caldare, which means “to heat.” The combination expresses returning something to a warmer state. Riscaldare is a regular -are verb of the first conjugation, so its conjugation follows standard patterns for this class (present: riscaldo, riscaldi, riscalda, riscaldiamo, riscaldate, riscaldano; passato prossimo: ho riscaldato; imperfect: riscaldavo, riscaldavi, riscaldava, riscaldavamo, riscaldavano).

Usage: In everyday language, riscaldare is commonly used for reheating food and beverages, for example riscaldare la zuppa or riscaldare il pranzo. It also appears in phrases about bringing something back to life or energy, such as riscaldare i motori (to warm up the engines) or riscaldare l’atmosfera (to warm up the atmosphere, figuratively). In a figurative sense, it can refer to rekindling interest, relations, or dialogue, as in riscaldare i rapporti.

Related terms: The noun riscaldamento denotes heating or warming, both in physical and figurative contexts, and is used to refer to heating systems as well as to broader concepts like climate warming.

Examples provided reflect typical usage in cooking, mechanical contexts, and figurative language, illustrating the versatility of the term in contemporary Italian.