translate

[ trans-leyt, tranz-, trans-leyt, tranz- ]

verb (used with object)

, trans·lat·ed, trans·lat·ing.

1. to turn from one language into another or from a foreign language into one's own:

   to translate Spanish.

2. to change the form, condition, nature, etc., of; transform; convert:

   to translate wishes into deeds.

3. to explain in terms that can be more easily understood; interpret.
4. to bear, carry, or move from one place, position, etc., to another; transfer.
5. Mechanics. to cause (a body) to move without rotation or angular displacement; subject to translation.
6. Computers. to convert (a program, data, code, etc.) from one form to another:

   to translate a FORTRAN program into assembly language.

7. Telegraphy. to retransmit or forward (a message), as by a relay.
8. Ecclesiastical.
   1. to move (a bishop) from one see to another.
   2. to move (a see) from one place to another.
   3. to move (relics) from one place to another.
9. to convey or remove to heaven without natural death.
10. Mathematics. to perform a translation on (a set, function, etc.).
11. to express the value of (a currency) in a foreign currency by applying the exchange rate.
12. to exalt in spiritual or emotional ecstasy; enrapture.

verb (used without object)

, trans·lat·ed, trans·lat·ing.

1. to provide or make a translation; act as translator.
2. to admit of translation:

   The Greek expression does not translate easily into English.

translate

/ trænsˈleɪt; trænz- /

verb

1. to express or be capable of being expressed in another language or dialect

   his books translate well

   he translated Shakespeare into Afrikaans

2. intr to act as translator
3. tr to express or explain in simple or less technical language
4. tr to interpret or infer the significance of (gestures, symbols, etc)
5. tr to transform or convert

   to translate hope into reality

6. See transcribe
   tr; usually passive biochem to transform the molecular structure of (messenger RNA) into a polypeptide chain by means of the information stored in the genetic code See also transcribe
7. to move or carry from one place or position to another
8. tr
   1. to transfer (a cleric) from one ecclesiastical office to another
   2. to transfer (a see) from one place to another
9. tr RC Church to transfer (the body or the relics of a saint) from one resting place to another
10. tr theol to transfer (a person) from one place or plane of existence to another, as from earth to heaven
11. maths physics to move (a figure or body) laterally, without rotation, dilation, or angular displacement
12. intr (of an aircraft, missile, etc) to fly or move from one position to another
13. archaic.
    tr to bring to a state of spiritual or emotional ecstasy

Derived Forms

• transˈlatable, adjective
• ˌtranslataˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• trans·lata·ble adjective
• trans·lata·bili·ty trans·lata·ble·ness noun
• half-translat·ed adjective
• inter·trans·lata·ble adjective
• pretrans·late verb (used with object) pretranslated pretranslating
• retrans·late verb (used with object) retranslated retranslating
• untrans·lata·bili·ty noun
• untrans·lata·ble adjective
• untrans·lated adjective
• well-trans·lated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of translate¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English translaten, from Latin trānslātus “borne across,” past participle of trānsferre “to bear across,” from trāns- trans- + ferre “to bear, bring, carry” ( bear ¹ ); for the suppletive element -lātus, earlier tlātus (unrecorded), thole ², tolerate

Word History and Origins

Origin of translate¹

C13: from Latin translātus transferred, carried over, from transferre to transfer

Example Sentences

That means that any uncertainty in matching the precise origins of two repeater quakes could translate to uncertainty in the travel times, and thus the temperature changes.

From Science News

Users can also report words that are incorrectly translated.

From TechCrunch

Under its “Good Customer Program,” Oportun allows borrowers to take out larger loans with lower interest rates, which typically translates to lower monthly payments.

From ProPublica

That translates to masking up at tightly spaced campsites and when passing others on hiking trails, too.

From Outside Online

Successfully navigating the transfers market often translates to wins on the playing pitch.

From Fortune

Do they have a plan for how to translate a ceasefire into something more durable?

From The Daily Beast

Or translate an interview maybe because I do like to translate things.

From The Daily Beast

As the Hooters press kit shows, an appreciation for breasts does not automatically translate to an appreciation of women.

From The Daily Beast

On the other hand, I do have doubts about how well his model would translate.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, deep innovations only translate into revenue if they can go to global markets effectively.

From The Daily Beast

This practice quickly enables you to turn figures into words, and to translate them back into figures.

From Project Gutenberg

Suppose you wish to find out what words will translate the date of the settlement of Jamestown, Va., 1607.

From Project Gutenberg

When night came, and Mr. Mayne could leave his post, she showed him the paper and asked him to translate it.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not surprising that many of the fables which Mandeville chose to translate anticipate the themes of his great work.

From Project Gutenberg

In our account of this interview we shall translate the broken Spanish of the Indian into ordinary English.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• convert
• decipher
• put
• render
• spell out
• transcribe
• turn