transmutation

[ trans-myoo-tey-shuhn, tranz- ]

noun

1. the act or process of transmuting.
2. the fact or state of being transmuted.
3. change into another nature, substance, form, or condition.
4. Biology. the transformation of one species into another. Compare transformism.
5. Physics. any process in which a nuclide is transformed into a different nuclide, usually one of a different element.
6. Alchemy. the supposed conversion of base metals into metals of greater value, especially into gold or silver.

transmutation

/ ˌtrænzmjuːˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of transmuting
2. the change of one chemical element into another by a nuclear reaction
3. the attempted conversion, by alchemists, of base metals into gold or silver

transmutation

/ trăns′myo̅o̅-tā′shən /

1. The changing of one chemical element into another. Transmutations occur naturally through radioactive decay, or artificially by bombarding the nucleus of a substance with subatomic particles.

Derived Forms

• ˌtransmuˈtational, adjective
• ˌtransmuˈtationist, nounadjective

Other Words From

• transmu·tation·al trans·mut·a·tive [trans-, myoo, -t, uh, -tiv, tranz-], adjective
• transmu·tation·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of transmutation¹

1350–1400; Middle English transmutacio ( u ) n (< Old French transmutation ) < Latin trānsmūtātiōn- (stem of trānsmūtātiō ) a changing, shifting, equivalent to trānsmūtāt ( us ) (past participle of trānsmūtāre to change) + -iōn- -ion. See transmute, -ation

Example Sentences

I think it’s a celebration of the transmutation of hubris to humility.

From Los Angeles Times

The most drastic transmutation of “The Ballad” thus far is in Episode 4, written by Giovanna Sarquis and directed by Rachel Goldberg.

From Los Angeles Times

It's difficult for researchers to make these kinds of observations; in fact, they are not able to directly observe acts of transmutation.

From Science Daily

Some even predicted that controlled transmutation might produce gold as an accidental by-product, which could make people rich while solving all our energy woes.

From Salon

The sculpture relates to “yearning for freedom and transmutation in constricting situations,” Monteiro says.

From New York Times