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

In addition, this community-led urban transformation project spread to neighboring areas.

From Science Daily

At the olive press, farmers wait patiently in the yard to witness the transformation of the olives they’ve been able to gather this year into "liquid gold".

From BBC

This "remarkable digital transformation" was "spearheaded" by Bawumia, news website African Business reported, while Ghanaian newspaper The Chronicle hailed Bawumia's "expertise in global digital transformation".

From BBC

The result would be what one expert called “transformation by intimidation.”

From Los Angeles Times

So while there is hope for a positive transformation in the manufacturing sector in the longer term, the shorter-term outlook will continue to be challenging.

From BBC

Related Words

• conversion
• metamorphosis
• renewal
• revolution
• shift