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picar

to sting

verb pee-KAHR Rare

Also means

to chop finely

Usage Note

Picar is deceptively broad: it covers an insect sting, the heat of chilli ('pica mucho' = 'it's very spicy'), chopping food finely (picar cebolla), and clicking a computer key or button in some Latin American varieties. The reflexive picarse means 'to get annoyed' or, in Spain, 'to develop a rivalry/compete'. Its wide range makes it one of the more versatile everyday verbs.

Examples

"Me picó una abeja en el brazo."

Natural Translation

A bee stung me on the arm.

Literal Translation

To-me stung a bee on the arm.

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