translate

verb

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trans·late | \ tran(t)s-ˈlāt

, tranz-; ˈtran(t)s-ˌlāt, ˈtranz- \

translated; translating

Definition of translate

transitive verb

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

b : to transfer or turn from one set of symbols into another : transcribe

c(1) : to express in different terms and especially different words : paraphrase

(2) : to express in more comprehensible terms : explain, interpret

2a : to bear, remove, or change from one place, state, form, or appearance to another : transfer, transform translate ideas into action

b : to convey to heaven or to a nontemporal condition without death

c : to transfer (a bishop) from one see to another

3 : enrapture

4 : to subject to mathematical translation

5 : to subject (genetic information) to translation in protein synthesis

intransitive verb

1 : to practice translation or make a translation also : to admit of or be adaptable to translation a word that doesn't translate easily

2 : to undergo a translation

3 : lead, result —usually used with intobelieves that tax cuts will translate into economic growth

Other Words from translate Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about translate

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Other Words from translate

translatability \ (ˌ)tran(t)s-ˌlā-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē

, (ˌ)tranz- \ noun

The translatability of other native two-dimensional designs into the commercial medium of silk screens, however, may not be so clearcut. — Margaret B. Blackman et al.

translatable \ tran(t)s-ˈlā-tə-bəl

, tranz- \ adjective

The word is of Derrida's own coinage and is deliberately ambiguous (and therefore not translatable), being derived from the French … — Ann Jefferson … but the resultant information is spotty and not readily translatable into an average national trend. — Barry Commoner

translator \ ˈtran(t)s-ˌlā-tər

, ˈtranz- ; tran(t)s-ˈlā-tər , tranz- \ noun

Examples of translate in a Sentence

My client speaks only Spanish. Will you translate for me? The French word “bonjour” translates as “hello” in English. We need someone who can translate Japanese into English. We have translated the report. The book has been translated into 37 languages. Can you translate this technical jargon? Seventy million Americans—that translates into one American out of every four—are under the age of 24.

Recent Examples on the Web Though TikTok is marked by its creative, loose content, influencers on TikTok have seen how having a following can translate into a career boost. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "How TikTok Changed Fashion This Year," 28 Dec. 2020 And running a special teams unit has formed skills that still translate to work as a head coach, which Judge noted during his introductory news conference. — Daniel Oyefusi, baltimoresun.com, "Ravens’ John Harbaugh, Giants’ Joe Judge set to meet in ‘special’ clash," 24 Dec. 2020 Traditional aerospace companies, such as Boeing and Airbus, believe their own experiences can translate into viable products. — Paul A. Eisenstein, NBC News, "Uber has offloaded its Elevate unit, but flying taxis are still taking off," 15 Dec. 2020 Policy victories that translate into bigger Democratic majorities in the House and Senate may prompt Republican lawmakers to change tack, for instance. — Washington Post, "GOP efforts to overturn election may do lasting harm to democracy, political scientists warn," 13 Dec. 2020 As the Recording Academy continues to diversify its membership, Bad Bunny is hoping his universal appeal can further translate in Hollywood. — Los Angeles Times, "Global superstar Bad Bunny has never won a ‘gringo Grammy.’ Will 2021 finally be his year?," 8 Dec. 2020 Whether the hours saved can translate into more productivity depends on the person and the job. — Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Are Americans actually more productive working from home?," 6 Nov. 2020 Secretaries of the interior might have a wealth of experience and knowledge about the energy industry from its interactions with public lands, but that wouldn’t translate to running the Department of Energy or its national laboratories. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "Biden Is Finding New and Inexplicable Ways to Screw Up His Cabinet Picks," 10 Dec. 2020 The 2 to 10% of participants reporting reactions in the trials would translate to a lot more people once millions are getting vaccinated, Moss said. — Allyson Chiu, Anchorage Daily News, "Mild vaccine side effects are ‘absolutely normal’ and no reason to avoid COVID shots, doctors say," 3 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'translate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.