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

"This waste can remain radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years, so it is usually buried deep underground. But there is a growing desire to explore another way, a way in which unstable radioactive waste can be made more stable, avoiding its radioactive decay and rendering it far safer to deal with. It's called transmutation."

From Science Daily

Transmutation is like the opposite of nuclear decay; instead of an element breaking apart and releasing radiation, a neutron can be added to an unstable element changing it into a slightly heavier version of itself.

From Science Daily

"Following recent observations of gravitational waves emanating from neutron star mergers, researchers have been able to better understand the ways neutrons interact and their ability to modify other elements. Based on this, we used a range of instruments to narrow our focus on how the element selenium, a common nuclear waste product, behaves when bombarded by neutrons. Our technique allows us to predict how materials absorb neutrons and undergo transmutation. This knowledge can contribute to designs for nuclear waste transmutation facilities."

From Science Daily