arrancar

Portuguese

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese arrancar, of uncertain origin. Probably from Latin ēruncāre, present active infinitive of ēruncō (“I weed out”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɐ.ʁɐ̃.ˈkaɾ/
• Hyphenation: ar‧ran‧car

Verb

1. (transitive with a or de) to pull, pluck, rip
2. to yank, jerk
3. to pull down, tear down
4. (intransitive, or transitive with com) to start (a machine, project etc.)

   Synonym: iniciar

   Arrancamos com o projeto. ― Let's start the project.

5. (intransitive, computing) to boot

   o computador não arranca ― the computer doesn't boot

---

Spanish

Etymology

Uncertain. Probably related to rancar, from Latin eruncāre, present active infinitive of eruncō (“I weed out”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aranˈkaɾ/ [a.rãŋˈkaɾ]
• Hyphenation: a‧rran‧car

Verb

1. (transitive) to pull out
   • 2016, José Luis Bonet, Cerebro, emociones y estrés, B DE BOOKS (→ISBN)

     Las personas experimentan una sensación creciente de ansiedad y estrés inmediatamente antes de un episodio de arrancarse el pelo, y también si pretende resistir a ese impulso.

     These people experience a growing feeling of anxiety and stress immediately before an episode of pulling out their hair, and also if they attempt to resist that impulse.

2. to unsheathe (a sword, dagger, etc.)
3. to rip, to tear
4. to get going, get started
5. to start (a machine)
6. (reflexive) to run away

Alternative forms

• rancar (obsolete)

Derived terms

• arrancable
• arrancada
• arrancador
• arrancadura
• arrancamiento
• arrancón
• arranque

 

Further reading

• “arrancar”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014