strizza

Strizza is primarily encountered as the third-person singular present indicative form of the Italian verb strizzare, meaning to wring, squeeze, or press to extract liquid. The infinitive is strizzare; in the present tense its forms are: io strizzo, tu strizzi, lui/lei strizza, noi strizziamo, voi strizzate, loro strizzano. The past participle is strizzato and the gerund is strizzando. Strizzare is a transitive verb and is used with an object.

Etymology and related forms: strizzare derives from the root ideas of pressing or squeezing, with common descendants in Italian verbs that express squeezing actions. The verb forms a family with related terms such as stringere (to tighten or press) in meaning and usage, though strizzare remains distinct in its specific wringing sense.

Usage: Literally, strizzare is used for actions like wringing water from clothes, towels, or fruit. For example, “Strizza bene il bucato prima di stenderlo” means to wring the laundry well before hanging. Figuratively, the expression “strizzare gli occhi” means to squint or narrow one’s eyes, conveying concentration or scrutiny, while “strizzare l’occhio” can mean to wink at someone in a friendly or conspiratorial way.

Variants and notes: The standard Italian usage is widespread and taught in grammar and language references. The verb can appear in various tenses and moods, with corresponding conjugations, and it shares semantic fields with other squeezing or pressing verbs, though its primary sense remains wringing.

See also: Italian verbs, strizzare conjugation, expressions with strizzare.