smarrire

Smarrire is an Italian verb used to indicate that something has been lost or misplaced, or that it has disappeared. It can refer to tangible objects, such as keys or documents, as well as to intangible things like information, memory, or a course of action.

It is typically used transitively with a direct object: smarrire qualcosa. Examples include smarrire le chiavi (to lose the keys), smarrire un documento, smarrire una traccia.

Smarrirsi is the reflexive form meaning to get lost or to go astray, either literally or figuratively: ci siamo smarriti nel bosco; smarrirsi nel mare di dati.

Smarrimento is the noun corresponding to the verb: lo smarrimento (loss, disappearance; state of confusion). It can refer to the loss of physical items (lo smarrimento dei documenti) or to emotional or cognitive states (una fase di smarrimento).

Usage notes: In formal writing, perdere tends to be used for the general loss or misplacement of objects, while smarrire conveys a stronger sense of misplacing or causing something to escape possession. The term is common in everyday speech, journalism, and logistical contexts.