Meaning
outbreak, hotbed, hotspot
- the seat, source, or active remnant of a fire
- a localized center where an infectious disease spreads; outbreak
- a center or source of unrest, tension, or conflict
In a sentence
Le autorità sanitarie hanno isolato un focolaio d'influenza nella scuola.
Health authorities isolated a flu outbreak in the school.
I vigili del fuoco hanno spento gli ultimi focolai dell'incendio.
Firefighters put out the fire's last remaining hotspots.
La regione è considerata un pericoloso focolaio di conflitti armati.
The region is considered a dangerous hotbed of armed conflicts.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| focolaio | masculine · singular |
| focolai | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Formed from 'fuoco' (fire); plural is 'focolai'.
- Widely used in epidemiological contexts ('focolaio di infezione') and political news.