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trans*
trans*adjectiveof or relating to people with gender expressions outside traditional norms, as transgender, genderqueer, agender, or nonbinary: campus groups that welcome trans* students.
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trans
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trans-
trans-a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin (transcend; transfix ); on this model, used with the meanings “across,” “beyond,” “through,” “changing thoroughly,” “transverse,” in combination with elements of any origin: transisthmian; trans-Siberian; transempirical; transvalue.
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trans.
trans.abbreviationtransaction.
trans*
1 Americanadjective
noun
adjective
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Their son is trans.
Laura is a trans woman.
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(no longer in common use) transsexual.
noun
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a prefix occurring in loanwords from Latin (transcend; transfix ); on this model, used with the meanings “across,” “beyond,” “through,” “changing thoroughly,” “transverse,” in combination with elements of any origin: transisthmian; trans-Siberian; transempirical; transvalue.
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Chemistry. a prefix denoting a geometric isomer having a pair of identical atoms or groups on the opposite sides of two atoms linked by a double bond.
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Astronomy. a prefix denoting something farther from the sun (than a given planet): trans-Martian; trans-Neptunian.
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a prefix meaning “on the other side of,” referring to the misalignment of one’s gender identity with one's sex assigned at birth: transgender.
abbreviation
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transaction.
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transfer.
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transferred.
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transformer.
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transit.
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transitive.
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translated.
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translation.
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translator.
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transparent.
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transportation.
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transpose.
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transverse.
abbreviation
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transaction
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transferred
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transitive
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translated
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translator
prefix
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across, beyond, crossing, on the other side
transoceanic
trans-Siberian
transatlantic
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changing thoroughly
transliterate
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transcending
transubstantiation
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transversely
transect
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(often in italics) indicating that a chemical compound has a molecular structure in which two groups or atoms are on opposite sides of a double bond Compare cis-
trans-butadiene
Sensitive Note
See trans, transgender.
The terms transgender and trans are generally accepted as interchangeable. However, some people prefer the shortened adjective trans to avoid any reference to assigned sex or binary gender in this inclusive identity label. Many transgender people prefer writing trans compounds as two words, as in trans man, trans woman, and trans person. When so written as an open compound with a space, trans functions as an adjective modifying a noun such as man. Spelling these words as closed or hyphenated compounds, as in transmale and trans-people, loses the distinction between trans as a descriptive adjective and man, woman, or person as a human being. Similarly, cis male and cis female are the preferred spelling of these terms. See also transgender.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of trans*1
First recorded in 2000–05; by shortening of transgender ( def. )
Origin of trans2
First recorded in 1970–75; by shortening
Origin of trans-3
From Latin, combining form of trāns (adverb and preposition) “across, beyond, through”
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.
During this hydrogenation process, double bonds in the cis- conformation in the hydrocarbon chain may be converted to double bonds in the trans- conformation; unfortunately, trans fats have been shown to contribute to heart disease.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
The prefix trans- still implies movement, change, transition, which is a valid component of identity for many transgender individuals.
From Slate • May 14, 2018
We ultimately got Charlie’s case trans- ferred to juvenile court, where the shooting was adjudicated as a juve- nile offense.
From MSNBC • Oct. 22, 2014
“These planes offer performance improvement of 500 miles of range -- important for us because we do a lot of trans- continental routes,” Cush said.
From BusinessWeek • Jan. 17, 2011
The other joint-stock banks of London trans- act their business in all respects in the same manner as the Bank of England.
From Everybody's Guide to Money Matters: with a description of the various investments chiefly dealt in on the stock exchange, and the mode of dealing therein by Cotton, William
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.