translation

noun

trans·​la·​tion tran(t)s-ˈlā-shən 

tranz-

1

: an act, process, or instance of translating: such as

a

: a rendering from one language into another

also : the product of such a rendering

b

: a change to a different substance, form, or appearance : conversion

c(1)

: a transformation of coordinates in which the new axes are parallel to the old ones

(2)

: uniform motion of a body in a straight line

2

: the process of forming a protein molecule at a ribosomal site of protein synthesis from information contained in messenger RNA compare transcription sense 3

translational

tran(t)s-ˈlā-shnəl 

tranz-

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Synonyms

• paraphrase
• rephrasing
• restatement
• restating
• rewording
• translating

Examples of translation in a Sentence

She is working on a translation of the novel.

a new translation of the Iliad

There were English translations on the menu.

the translation of economic power into political strength

Recent Examples on the Web

This update on Vanya doesn’t alter the story in any revolutionary terms but noticably streamlines the despair: by some mixture of performance and translation, many of the characters have been flattened into their simplest, most accessible forms. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 25 Apr. 2024

Languages do not simply offer different labels for the same universal set of items and concepts, with translation always bridging the gap. —Ross Perlin, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

Send any news, comments, dog translation apps, and Emily Dickinson exclamations to [e-mail]. —Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024

Of all the things the Humane AI Pin promised, I was most intrigued by translation. —Victoria Song, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024

While the eclipse is underway, Wayne Grim, a musician and composer based at the museum, will create a live sonification, or translation into sound, of the spectacular celestial event. —Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

During the 2020 primary and general elections, federal prosecutors said, Taylor filled out voter registrations and absentee ballots for members of the Vietnamese community under the guise of offering translation help. —Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024

Read more: The 10 Best Video Games of 2023 Key to the success of Fallout’s translation between mediums is that itfeels welcoming to both longtime fans of the game series, which consists of four main entries and several spin-offs, and newcomers who have no familiarity with the property. —Richard Newby, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024

Also from Junction will be a special stream, playing views of the eclipse accompanied by a sonification—or the translation of solar data into sound. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing translation

• in translation
• loan translation
• lose (something) in translation

Kids Definition

translation

noun

trans·​la·​tion tran(t)s-ˈlā-shən 

tranz-

1

: an act, process, or product of translating

2

: the process of forming a protein molecule from information contained in a messenger RNA molecule compare transcription sense 3

Medical Definition

translation

noun

trans·​la·​tion tran(t)s-ˈlā-shən, tranz- 

: the process of forming a protein molecule at a ribosomal site of protein synthesis from information contained in messenger RNA compare transcription

translational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective