abultar (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

abultar - Verb

Phonetic Transcription

/abu'ltar/

Translation Options into English

1. To bulk (up)
2. To exaggerate
3. To swell

Meaning and Usage

abultar is a transitive verb in Spanish that refers to the action of making something larger or more voluminous, often in a physical sense. It can also imply exaggerating something in a metaphorical context, such as inflating a story or a claim. The term is moderately used in both spoken and written contexts, often appearing in discussions related to fashion, design, and rhetoric.

Example Sentences

1. El diseñador decidió abultar la parte inferior del vestido para darle más forma.

2. The designer decided to bulk up the lower part of the dress to give it more shape.

3. No es correcto abultar los hechos en un informe; debemos ser claros y precisos.

4. It is not correct to exaggerate the facts in a report; we must be clear and precise.

5. La almohada tiende a abultar demasiado cuando se usa una funda más grande.

6. The pillow tends to swell too much when a larger cover is used.

Idiomatic Expressions

While "abultar" may not have widely recognized idiomatic expressions, it can be used creatively in idiomatic contexts to express exaggeration or inflation of stories:

1. No tienes que abultar la situación, solo dile la verdad.

2. You don't have to exaggerate the situation, just tell the truth.

3. Siempre abultan las historias para hacerlas más interesantes.

4. They always inflate the stories to make them more interesting.

5. Al abultar los detalles, la discusión se volvió confusa.

6. By exaggerating the details, the discussion became confusing.

Etymology

The verb abultar comes from the Latin abultare, which is a frequentative form of abulare, meaning "to become full". This connection ties back to the idea of enlarging or embellishing things.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - inflar (to inflate) - exagerar (to exaggerate) - aumentar (to increase)

Antonyms: - desinflar (to deflate) - disminuir (to diminish) - reducir (to reduce)

In summary, "abultar" serves as a versatile verb with applications in art, design, and communication, emphasizing the importance of clarity and honesty in both physical and metaphorical spaces.