tallar

to carve

tallar(tah-yahr)

transitive verb

1. (to fashion)

a. to carve (wood, stone)

Mi abuelo me enseñó a tallar estatuillas en madera.

My grandfather taught me how to carve wood figurines.

Los escultores tallaron unas palabras en latín en el monumento.

The sculptors carved some words in latin on the monument.

b. to sculpt (stone, metal)

El artista talló una bella figura en piedra.

The artist sculpted a beautiful figure in stone.

c. to cut (gemstone)

Aprendió a tallar diamantes en el taller de su padre.

He learned to cut diamonds in his father's workshop.

2. (to determine the height of)

a. to measure

Había que pesar y tallar cada nuevo prisionero.

All new prisoners had to be weighed and have their height measured.

3. (to massage)

(Mexico)

a. to rub

Al tallar los hombros, la masajista se dio cuenta qué tan tenso estaba.

As she rubbed his shoulders, the masseuse realized how tense he was.

4. (to scour)

(Mexico)

a. to scrub

Estaba arrodillado tallando el piso de la cocina después de la fiesta.

He was on his knees scrubbing the kitchen floor after the party.

tallarse

reflexive verb

5. (to massage oneself)

(Mexico)

a. to rub oneself

Salió del baño tallándose con una toalla.

She came out of the bathroom rubbing herself with a towel.

6. (to rub oneself hard)

(Mexico)

a. to scrub oneself

Por más que me tallé, no salió la pintura.

No matter how hard I scrubbed myself, the paint wouldn't come off.

tallar

transitive verb

1. (esculpir; madera, piedra)

a. to carve

2. (piedra preciosa)

a. to cut

3. (medir)

a. to measure (the height of)

4. (limpiar)

(Mexico)

a. to scrub

5. (masajear)

a. to rub

Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited

tallar

transitive verb

1 [+madera] to carve; work; [+piedra] to sculpt; [+diamante] to cut; [+metal] to engrave

2 [+persona] to measure (the height of)

3 (Naipes) to deal

intransitive verb

(Naipes) to deal; be banker

pronominal verb

tallarse (México) (frotarse) to rub o.s.; (para limpiarse) to scrub o.s.

se ve que tiene sueño porque se talla sus ojos (los mexicanos tienden a usar el posesivo con partes del cuerpo) tállese la parte afectada con esta crema

tallar

transitive verb

1 (And) (fastidiar) to bother; annoy

2 (And) (azotar) to beat

intransitive verb

(S. Cone) (chismear) to gossip; [+amantes] to whisper sweet nothings;