transformation

[ trans-fer-mey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of transforming.
2. the state of being transformed.
3. change in form, appearance, nature, or character.
4. Theater. a seemingly miraculous change in the appearance of scenery or actors in view of the audience.
5. Logic. Also called transform. one of a set of algebraic formulas used to express the relations between elements, sets, etc., that form parts of a given system.
6. Mathematics.
   1. the act, process, or result of transforming or mapping.
   2. function ( def 4a ).
7. Linguistics.
   1. transformational rule.
   2. the process by which deep structures are converted into surface structures using transformational rules.
8. Genetics. the transfer of genetic material from one cell to another resulting in a genetic change in the recipient cell.
9. a wig or hairpiece for a woman.

transformation

/ ˌtrænsfəˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. a change or alteration, esp a radical one
2. the act of transforming or the state of being transformed
3. maths
   1. a change in position or direction of the reference axes in a coordinate system without an alteration in their relative angle
   2. an equivalent change in an expression or equation resulting from the substitution of one set of variables by another
4. physics a change in an atomic nucleus to a different nuclide as the result of the emission of either an alpha-particle or a beta-particle Compare transition
5. linguistics another word for transformational rule
6. an apparently miraculous change in the appearance of a stage set
7. (in South Africa) a national strategy aimed at attaining national unity, promoting reconciliation through negotiated settlement and non-racism

transformation

/ trăns′fər-mā′shən /

1. The genetic alteration of a bacteria cell by the introduction of DNA from another cell or from a virus. Plasmids , which contain extrachromosomal DNA, are used to transform bacteria in recombinant DNA research.
2. The change undergone by an animal cell upon infection by a cancer-causing virus.

Derived Forms

• ˌtransforˈmational, adjective

Other Words From

• transfor·mation·al adjective
• nontrans·for·mation noun
• retrans·for·mation noun
• self-transfor·mation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of transformation¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin trānsfōrmātiōn-, stem of trānsfōrmātiō “change of shape”; equivalent to trans- + formation

Example Sentences

Nothing much happens by way of action, yet unspoken tensions simmer under the surface, and by the movie’s surprising end, you sense that a tremendous transformation has quietly taken place.

From New York Times

The decision also made possible a hero’s transformation for Charles, from a fumbling first-time spy to someone capable of solving a case.

From Los Angeles Times

"We can perform transformations of motion so that gravity and electromagnetism can be deduced from the same equation of spacetime."

From Salon

The governing NPP says it has built a resilient economy that is on the "cusp of… transformation" so it is not the time to change.

From BBC

The South Bay is in for a large-scale transformation near the Port of Los Angeles as Phillips 66 shuts down its sprawling refineries and makes way for developers to reimagine the prime real estate.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conversion
• metamorphosis
• renewal
• revolution
• shift