transmutation
Americannoun
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the act or process of transmuting.
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the fact or state of being transmuted.
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change into another nature, substance, form, or condition.
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Biology. the transformation of one species into another.
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Physics. any process in which a nuclide is transformed into a different nuclide, usually one of a different element.
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Alchemy. the supposed conversion of base metals into metals of greater value, especially into gold or silver.
noun
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the act or an instance of transmuting
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the change of one chemical element into another by a nuclear reaction
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the attempted conversion, by alchemists, of base metals into gold or silver
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of transmutation
1350–1400; Middle English transmutacio ( u ) n (< Old French transmutation ) < Latin trānsmūtātiōn- (stem of trānsmūtātiō ) a changing, shifting, equivalent to trānsmūtāt ( us ) (past participle of trānsmūtāre to change) + -iōn- -ion. See transmute, -ation
Vocabulary lists containing transmutation
Nuclear Processes
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Physics - High School
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"Hamlet's Dull Revenge," Vocabulary from the literary criticism
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Every day, I became less convinced by complete purification as a means of enlightenment, and more interested in curation, transmutation and integration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2025
"We are confident that our measurements accurately reflect the real rate of transmutation of unstable selenium into a more stable form," said Imai.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 16, 2024
Indeed, when Soddy realized what was going on, he shouted to his colleague: "Rutherford, this is transmutation!"
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2023
The sculpture relates to “yearning for freedom and transmutation in constricting situations,” Monteiro says.
From New York Times ● Feb. 23, 2023
How could Boyle, one of the key figures of the Scientific Revolution, be so totally convinced of the reality of alchemical transmutation?
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
