transmute

play

verb trans·mute \tran(t)s-ˈmyüt, tranz-\

Definition of transmute

transmuted

;

transmuting

transitive verb
1 : to change or alter in form, appearance, or nature and especially to a higher form
2 : to subject (something, such as an element) to transmutation
intransitive verb
: to undergo transmutation

transmutable

play \-ˈmyü-tə-bəl\ adjective

See transmute defined for English-language learners

See transmute defined for kids

Examples of transmute in a Sentence

The stories of their lives were transmuted into works of fiction.
The former criminal had transmuted into a national hero.

Recent Examples of transmute from the Web

On the southern edge of Gaza City the crystalline blue Mediterranean is being transmuted into a vast, bobbing pool of raw sewage, the product of half a million people with nowhere else for their effluent to flow.

— The Economist, "Hamastan at 10Hamas marks ten years of misruling Gaza," 13 July 2017
His character’s romantic befuddlement starts out as garden-variety manchild confusion, gradually transmuting into a soul-rattling—if often very funny—crisis.

— stephanie zacharek, Time, "Review: The Big Sick Treads the Minefield of Cross-Cultural Love, and of Just Being a Grown-up," 22 June 2017
Not at first meant to be shared, these become a sort of game that revives her sex life with Sylvère, and later transmute into an art project in which Chris finally finds her voice.

— robert lloyd, latimes.com, "Amazon's 'I Love Dick' makes an uneasy transition from page to screen," 11 May 2017
Neutrinos transmute from one form into one another thanks to their inexplicable mass.

— brendan cole, WIRED, "The Search for a New Type of Neutrino Turns Up Empty," 8 Aug. 2016

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

Did You Know?

Transmutation changes something over into something else. Thus, a writer may transmute his life into stories or novels, and an arranger might transmute a lively march tune into a quiet lullaby. In the "Myth of Er" at the end of Plato's Republic, for example, human souls are transmuted into the body and existence of their choice. Having learned from their last life what they do not want to be, many choose transmutation into something that seems better. A meek man chooses to be transmuted into a tyrant, a farmer into a dashing (but short-lived) warrior, and so on. But very few seem to have learned anything from their former life that would make their choice a real improvement.

Origin and Etymology of transmute

Middle English, from Latin transmutare, from trans- + mutare to change — more at mutable

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First Known Use: 15th century

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Synonym Discussion of transmute

transform, metamorphose, transmute, convert, transmogrify, transfigure mean to change a thing into a different thing. transform implies a major change in form, nature, or function. transformed a small company into a corporate giant metamorphose suggests an abrupt or startling change induced by or as if by magic or a supernatural power. awkward girls metamorphosed into graceful ballerinas transmute implies transforming into a higher element or thing. attempted to transmute lead into gold convert implies a change fitting something for a new or different use or function. converted the study into a nursery transmogrify suggests a strange or preposterous metamorphosis. a story in which a frog is transmogrified into a prince transfigure implies a change that exalts or glorifies. joy transfigured her face

TRANSMUTE Defined for English Language Learners

transmute

play

verb

Definition of transmute for English Language Learners

: to completely change the form, appearance, or nature of (someone or something)

Law Dictionary

transmute

play

transitive verb trans·mute \tranz-ˈmyüt, trans-\

Legal Definition of transmute

transmuted

transmuting

: to convert or transform the type of ownership of (property) by transmutation did not transmute the properties themselves into marital assets — In re Siddens, 588 N.E.2d 321 (1992)