interpretation

[ in-tur-pri-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of interpreting; elucidation; explication:

   This writer's work demands interpretation.

2. an explanation of the meaning of another's artistic or creative work; an elucidation:

   an interpretation of a poem.

3. a conception of another's behavior:

   a charitable interpretation of his tactlessness.

4. a way of interpreting.
5. the rendering of a dramatic part, music, etc., so as to bring out the meaning, or to indicate one's particular conception of it.
6. oral translation.

interpretation

/ ɪnˌtɜːprɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of interpreting or explaining; elucidation
2. the result of interpreting; an explanation
3. a particular view of an artistic work, esp as expressed by stylistic individuality in its performance
4. explanation, as of the environment, a historical site, etc, provided by the use of original objects, personal experience, visual display material, etc
5. logic an allocation of significance to the terms of a purely formal system, by specifying ranges for the variables, denotations for the individual constants, etc; a function from the formal language to such elements of a possible world

Derived Forms

• inˌterpreˈtational, adjective

Other Words From

• in·terpre·tation·al adjective
• nonin·terpre·tation·al adjective
• over·in·terpre·tation noun
• prein·terpre·tation noun
• rein·terpre·tation noun
• self-in·terpre·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of interpretation¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin interpretātiōn-, stem of interpretātiō; equivalent to interpret ( def ) + -ation ( def )

Example Sentences

However, MRI interpretation is highly time-consuming and heavily dependent on expertise.

From Science Daily

Watts said the Nevada measure is largely “symbolic,” but he “welcomes” people to push the interpretation further so it applies to prison labor.

From Los Angeles Times

But one of the report authors responded by strongly rejecting this interpretation of the study and that its findings “never supported” Kennedy’s claims.

From BBC

Morris is an "evolving tradition", Colin says, and he thinks it's interesting to see teams develop their own interpretations of the dance.

From BBC

Nature makes most of the decisions about how a dinosaur mount will look, but there is a little room for interpretation within the realm of the scientifically plausible.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• analysis
• clarification
• explanation
• judgment
• meaning
• perception
• reading
• translation