interpreter

[ in-tur-pri-ter ]

/ ɪnˈtɜr prɪ tər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR interpreter ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who interprets.

a person who provides an oral translation between speakers who speak different languages.

Computers.

hardware or software that transforms one statement at a time of a program written in a high-level language into a sequence of machine actions and executes the statement immediately before going on to transform the next statement.Compare compiler(def 2).
an electromechanical device that reads the patterns of holes in punched cards and prints the same data on the cards, so that they can be read more conveniently by people.

Nearby words

Origin of interpreter

1350–1400; Middle English interpretour < Anglo-French; see interpret, -er²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for interpreter

Shadman started as a laborer, but within a year became an interpreter because he could speak English.
Special Forces’ $77M ‘Hustler’ Hits Back|Kevin Maurer|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our Pashto interpreter explained how he had pretended to be a Pakistani policeman when interested crowds approached the compound.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The grunt takes a hard look at our interpreter, rotates his M16 and opens the vehicle door, motioning for us to get out.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But he continued to study English every day and eventually was accepted as an interpreter.
Obama Went to War to Save Them, But They Can’t Get U.S. Visas|Christine van den Toorn, Sherizaan Minwalla|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Follow the latest with the liveblog of The Interpreter, a website covering Russian media and the war in Ukraine.
Live Updates on the Battle Over MH17|The Daily Beast|July 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Quecholli means 'peacock,' but the interpreter of the Codex Telleriano-Remensis calls it the 'serpent of the clouds.'
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 2|Hubert Howe Bancroft
The doctor, interpreter, and myself arrived at eight o'clock at night; found water and wood, but had nothing to eat.
The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume II (of 3)|Elliott Coues
On this subject there is written upon the walls of the past a lesson for statesmen that needs no interpreter.
Sermon, Delivered Before His Excellency Edward Everett, Governor &c. on the Anniversary Election, January 2, 1839|Mark Hopkins
It could not hope to count upon a prophet or an interpreter.
The Goose Man|Jacob Wassermann
"The horse-joke comes in, Walter, when that interpreter begins," said Chase.
Horace Chase|Constance Fenimore Woolson

British Dictionary definitions for interpreter

interpreter

/ (ɪnˈtɜːprɪtə) /

noun

a person who translates orally from one language into another

a person who interprets the work of others

computing

a program that translates a second program to machine code one statement at a time and causes the execution of the resulting code as soon as the translation is completed
a machine that interprets the holes in a punched card and prints the corresponding characters on that card

Derived Formsinterpretership, nouninterpretress, fem n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for interpreter

interpreter

"one who translates spoken languages; a translator of written texts," late 14c., from Old French interpreteor, from Late Latin interpretatorem, agent noun from interpretari (see interpret).

interpreter

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of interpreter

Examples from the Web for interpreter

interpreter

noun

interpreter