translate
verb
trans·late
tran(t)s-ˈlāt 
tranz-;
ˈtran(t)s-ˌlāt,
ˈtranz-
translated; translating
1
a
: 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
3
4
: to subject to mathematical translation
5
: to subject (genetic information) to translation in protein synthesis
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
translatability
(ˌ)tran(t)s-ˌlā-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun
(ˌ)tranz-
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.
Margaret B. Blackman et al.
translatable
tran(t)s-ˈlā-tə-bəl
adjective
tranz-
The word is of Derrida's own coinage and is deliberately ambiguous (and therefore not translatable), being derived from the French …
—Ann Jefferson
Ann Jefferson
… but the resultant information is spotty and not readily translatable into an average national trend.
—Barry Commoner
Barry Commoner
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
The increase in muscle translates to a higher metabolism, which means that your body will naturally burn fat faster and more efficiently.
—Fred Sassani, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Consequently, this has translated to higher mortgage rates, which in turn suppressed home sales.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Kristallnacht translates as Night of Broken Glass, a reference to the thousands of shops, businesses and synagogues destroyed by the Nazis across the two nights in November 1938.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Each extra year of training, for example, translates to $143,000 in additional annual income.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for translate 
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Fred Sassani, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Consequently, this has translated to higher mortgage rates, which in turn suppressed home sales.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Kristallnacht translates as Night of Broken Glass, a reference to the thousands of shops, businesses and synagogues destroyed by the Nazis across the two nights in November 1938.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Each extra year of training, for example, translates to $143,000 in additional annual income.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for translate
Dictionary Entries Near translate
Cite this Entry
“Translate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/translate. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
translate
verb
trans·late
tran(t)s-ˈlāt
tranz-
tranz-
translated; translating
1
: to change from one place, state, or form to another : transform
translate ideas into action
2
: to transport miraculously to heaven without death
3
a
: to change from one language or set of symbols into another
translate Japanese into English
b
: to express in different words : paraphrase
c
: to explain in a clearer way : interpret
needed a lawyer to translate the contract
4
: to be translated
5
: to have as a result
—usually used with into
believes that more homework will translate into better grades
Medical Definition
translate
transitive verb
trans·late
tran(t)s-ˈlāt, tranz-
translated; translating
: to subject (as genetic information) to translation in protein synthesis
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