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istantaneo
/in.stanˈtaː.ne.o/
instant
La risposta è stata istantanea.
The response was instant.
neutral
Happening immediately, without any delay.
L'effetto del farmaco è istantaneo.
The effect of the medicine is instantaneous.
Ha una connessione internet istantanea.
He has an instant internet connection.
Often used to describe reactions, effects, or connections that occur without perceptible delay.
Collocations
effetto istantaneoinstant effectconnessione istantaneainstant connectionreazione istantaneainstant reaction
Pro Tip
Avoid literal translations
Don't confuse 'istantaneo' with 'istantaneo' as a noun (e.g., 'un istantaneo' = an instant photo). The adjective is far more common.
Gold Rule
Use for zero-delay actions
Use 'istantaneo' to emphasize that something happens without any perceptible delay, not just 'quick' or 'fast'.
Word Origin
From Latin *instantaneus*, derived from *instant-* (present participle of *instare*, 'to be present') + *-aneus* (suffix forming adjectives). The Latin root *instare* means 'to stand upon' or 'to be urgent', reflecting the idea of something pressing or immediate.
Usage Notes
Used in both technical and everyday contexts. In computing, it often refers to real-time processing (e.g., 'messaggistica istantanea' = instant messaging). Avoid confusing with 'istantaneo' as a noun (rare, meaning 'something instantaneous').
Word Breakdown
istant-
from Latin *instant-* (present, urgent)
root-aneo
adjectival suffix (like '-aneous')
suffixDizionario Italiano-Inglese