transpire

[tran-spahyuhr]

verb (used without object)

transpired, transpiring 

1. to occur; happen; take place.

2. to emit or give off waste matter, watery vapor, etc., through the surface, as of the body or of leaves.

3. to escape, as moisture or odor, through or as if through pores.

4. to be revealed or become known.

verb (used with object)

transpired, transpiring 

1. to emit or give off (waste matter, watery vapor, an odor, etc.) through the surface, as of the body or of leaves.

transpire

/ ˌtrænspəˈreɪʃən, trænˈspaɪə /

verb

1. (intr) to come to light; be known

2. informal,  (intr) to happen or occur

3. physiol to give off or exhale (water or vapour) through the skin, a mucous membrane, etc

4. (of plants) to lose (water in the form of water vapour), esp through the stomata of the leaves

Usage

It is often maintained that transpire should not be used to mean happen or occur, as in the event transpired late in the evening , and that the word is properly used to mean become known, as in it transpired later that the thief had been caught . The word is, however, widely used in the former sense, esp in spoken English

Other Word Forms

• transpirable adjective
• transpiratory adjective
• untranspiring adjective
• transpiration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of transpire¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French transpirer, from Medieval Latin trānspīrāre, equivalent to Latin trāns- trans- + spīrāre “to breathe”

Word History and Origins

Origin of transpire¹

C16: from Medieval Latin transpīrāre , from Latin _trans- + spīrāre to breathe

Example Sentences

To suggest that the Dodgers needed Yamamoto would be wildly underselling what transpired on Saturday night.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And on Friday, the interim athletic director attempted to assure everyone that, despite all that has transpired in this week, the department is not in disarray.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As it transpired, there was no reason to fret on a night when worry and angst for those in green and white was confined to pre-match.

Read more on BBC

Many decades and unconscionable acts have transpired since that speculative conversation.

Read more on Salon

How that will transpire is unclear, but it yet again raises the prospect of disagreement, vetoes and stand-off.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• arise 
• befall 
• ensue