transpose

1 of 2

verb

trans·​pose tran(t)s-ˈpōz How to pronounce transpose (audio)
transposed; transposing

transitive verb

1
: to change the relative place or normal order of : alter the sequence of
transpose letters to change the spelling
2
: to change in form or nature : transform
3
: to render into another language, style, or manner of expression : translate
4
: to transfer from one place or period to another : shift
5
: to write or perform (a musical composition) in a different key
6
: to bring (a term) from one side of an algebraic equation to the other with change of sign
transposable adjective

transpose

2 of 2

noun

trans·​pose ˈtran(t)s-ˌpōz How to pronounce transpose (audio)
: a matrix formed from another matrix by interchanging the rows and columns

Did you know?

Though transposing two digits can be disastrous, transposing two letters in a word often doesn't matter too much. (You can prboalby raed tihs setnence witohut too mcuh toruble.) Transposing two words or sounds—as in "Can I sew you to another sheet?"—has been a good source of humor over the years. Doctors sometimes discover that something in the body—a nerve, an organ, etc.—has been transposed, or moved away from its proper place. For musicians, transposing means changing the key of a piece; if you can do this at a moment's notice, you've been well trained.

Choose the Right Synonym for transpose

reverse, transpose, invert mean to change to the opposite position.

reverse is the most general term and may imply change in order, side, direction, meaning.

reversed his position on the trade agreement

transpose implies a change in order or relative position of units often through exchange of position.

transposed the letters to form an anagram

invert applies chiefly to turning upside down or inside out.

the number 9 looks like an inverted 6

Examples of transpose in a Sentence

Verb I must have accidentally transposed the numbers when I dialed his phone number. a story originally set in London that has been transposed to Paris for this film a melody transposed to the key of C
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
For the cover of the March 11, 2024, issue, the cartoonist Barry Blitt transposed the rivalry between the blockbuster films of 2023 onto the moment when, during the 2022 Oscars, the actor Will Smith walked onstage to slap the comedian Chris Rock across the face. Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 But there’s a risk in transposing the past to the present. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024 In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, first published in 1865, and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, Dodgson transposed the conventions of his genteel world into a magical universe. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024 So many similar sitcoms — wherein comedians transpose their stage personas into eponymous television characters — place the lead in a position where events mostly happen around them rather than to them. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 24 June 2023 The ability to transpose large spaces into a small two-dimensional surface represents a milestone in intelligent behavior. Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 2 Jan. 2024 Marvel at Millepied’s attempts to also maintain the thematic skeletons defining the two lead characters while transposing elements so diluted the end result feels like an exploitation film. Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 5 Dec. 2023 Take the same facts — with all their brutality — and transpose them somewhere poorer and less racially homogeneous. Joshua St. Clair, Men's Health, 27 Apr. 2023 His work transposes these generationally primordial references from the screen to the street, merging geek aesthetics with urban heroics. Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023
Noun
The sequence of data transfer, transpose and orchestration. Prashanth Southekal, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'transpose.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French transposer, from Latin transponere (perfect indicative transposui) to change the position of, from trans- + ponere to put, place — more at position

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of transpose was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near transpose

Cite this Entry

“Transpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transpose. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

transpose

verb
trans·​pose
tran(t)s-ˈpōz
transposed; transposing
1
: to change the position, order, or sequence of
2
: to write or perform (a musical composition) in a different key
3
: to bring (a term) from one side of an algebraic equation to the other with change of sign
given the equation y = 3 - 2x, transpose the 2x to get y + 2x = 3
transposition
ˌtran(t)s-pə-ˈzish-ən
noun

Medical Definition

transpose

verb
trans·​pose tran(t)s-ˈpōz How to pronounce transpose (audio)
transposed; transposing

transitive verb

: to transfer from one place or period to another
specifically : to subject to genetic transposition

intransitive verb

: to undergo genetic transposition
transposable adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on transpose

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