mutate

[ myoo-teyt ]

verb (used with object)

, mu·tat·ed, mu·tat·ing.

1. to change; alter.
2. Biology. to cause (a gene, cell, etc.) to undergo an alteration of one or more characteristics:

   The disease mutates the retina’s rod cells, and they slowly stop working.

3. Phonetics. to change by umlaut.

verb (used without object)

, mu·tat·ed, mu·tat·ing.

1. to undergo change:

   It was a gamble to mutate from hard rock frontman to big band crooner, but he went seriously retro and won that bet in a huge way.

2. Biology. (of a gene, cell, etc.) to undergo an alteration of one or more characteristics:

   Drug-resistant cells mutate more quickly and could migrate into surrounding tissue.

mutate

/ mjuːˈteɪtɪv; ˈmjuːtətɪv; mjuːˈteɪt /

verb

1. to undergo or cause to undergo mutation

Derived Forms

• mutative, adjective

Other Words From

• mu·ta·tive [myoo, -t, uh, -tiv], adjective
• non·mu·ta·tive adjective
• un·mu·tat·ed adjective
• un·mu·ta·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutate¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from Latin mūtātus, past participle of mūtare “to change”; -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutate¹

C19: from Latin mūtātus changed, from mūtāre to change

Example Sentences

In the mutated mosquitoes, neurons normally involved in detecting sound showed no response to the flight tones or wingbeats of potential mates.

From BBC

Each time the virus transfers it also increases the chances it could mutate in some way that could more easily infect humans, posing a pandemic risk on par with COVID-19.

From Salon

Since their reproductive genes tend to mutate faster, the right dose can leave them relatively unfazed but unable to reproduce.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s behaving exactly as we’ve come to know of this virus over the past 25 years. It’s spreading very efficiently now among mammals, and it’s mutating and adapting to mammals as it does.”

From Los Angeles Times

The UK Health Security Agency says it is normal for viruses to mutate and change.

From BBC

Related Words

• alter
• modify