translate

verb

trans·late | \ tran(t)s-ˈlāt

How to pronounce translate (audio)

, 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 into believes 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

Synonyms & Antonyms for translate

Synonyms

paraphrase, rephrase, restate, reword

Antonyms

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

Carr’s intentions were clearly good, but the campy tone of BBB did not translate to the Oscars stage. — Emma Dibdin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Why the 2019 Oscars Don't Have a Host—And the Disaster That Ensued Last Time It Happened," 24 Feb. 2019 The Cam Link 4K takes HDMI input from a camera and translates it into video at up to 4K at 30 fps, or 1080p at 60 fps. — Nick Statt, The Verge, "Elgato’s newest Cam Link will let live streamers turn a DSLR or GoPro into a 4K webcam," 27 Nov. 2018 Hill grows from having to teach herself new makeup trends and translating them to her viewers. — Devon Abelman, Allure, "Jaclyn Hill Shares the Secret to Her Best-Selling Palette," 26 July 2018 In recent years, the OU's women members have sought a greater voice in Torah scholarship and learning; in other Jewish movements, passion for Jewish learning has, in recent decades, translated into women pursuing the rabbinate. — Elizabeth Kratz, Jewish Journal, "How the OU prompted programs that meet women's needs," 14 June 2018 All of the noise at the national level has not translated into enthusiasm in local and statewide contests. — Amy Chance, sacbee, "California Influencers: What did we learn from the June primary election, and why?," 11 June 2018 But avoiding a record loss for a futures wager didn’t translate into big wins for the books. — Charles Curtis, For The Win, "Las Vegas sportsbooks were big winners when the Capitals clinched the Stanley Cup," 8 June 2018 The physical talent did not translate into sustained success. — Henry Schulman, San Francisco Chronicle, "Giants’ Hernandez turning AT&T into Gorkys’ park," 7 June 2018 That has translated into a corkboard wall in one son’s room and a watermelon Quadrille crosshatch wallcovering in the daughter’s room. — Jennifer Fernandez, House Beautiful, "This Chic House Is Designed to Be a Playground—For Kids and Adults," 11 Mar. 2019

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.

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Dictionary Entries near translate

Statistics for translate

Last Updated

23 Apr 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for translate

The first known use of translate was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for translate

translate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of translate

: to change words from one language into another language

: to explain (something) in a way that is easier to understand

: to have the same meaning

See the full definition for translate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

translate

verb

trans·late | \ trans-ˈlāt

\

translated; translating

Kids Definition of translate

1 : to turn from one language into another

2 : to change from one form to another Let's translate words into action.

translate

transitive verb

trans·late | \ tran(t)s-ˈlāt, tranz-

\

translated; translating

Medical Definition of translate

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

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