translate

American  

[trans-layt, tranz-, trans-layt, tranz-] / trænsˈleɪt, trænz-, ˈtræns leɪt, ˈtrænz- /

verb (used with object)

• translates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• translated,
  past participle,  past
• translating
  present participle

1. to turn from one language into another or from a foreign language into one's own.

   to translate Spanish.

2. to change the form, condition, nature, etc., of; transform; convert.

   to translate wishes into deeds.

3. to explain in terms that can be more easily understood; interpret.

4. to bear, carry, or move from one place, position, etc., to another; transfer.

5. Mechanics. to cause (a body) to move without rotation or angular displacement; subject to translation.

6. Computers. to convert (a program, data, code, etc.) from one form to another.

   to translate a FORTRAN program into assembly language.

7. Telegraphy. to retransmit or forward (a message), as by a relay.

8. Ecclesiastical.

   1. to move (a bishop) from one see to another.

   2. to move (a see) from one place to another.

   3. to move (relics) from one place to another.

9. to convey or remove to heaven without natural death.

10. Mathematics. to perform a translation on (a set, function, etc.).

11. to express the value of (a currency) in a foreign currency by applying the exchange rate.

12. to exalt in spiritual or emotional ecstasy; enrapture.

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verb (used without object)

• translates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• translated,
  past participle,  past
• translating
  present participle

1. to provide or make a translation; act as translator.

2. to admit of translation.

   The Greek expression does not translate easily into English.

translate British  

/ trænsˈleɪt, trænz- /

verb

1. to express or be capable of being expressed in another language or dialect

   he translated Shakespeare into Afrikaans

   his books translate well

2. (intr) to act as translator

3. (tr) to express or explain in simple or less technical language

4. (tr) to interpret or infer the significance of (gestures, symbols, etc)

5. (tr) to transform or convert

   to translate hope into reality

6. (tr; usually passive) biochem to transform the molecular structure of (messenger RNA) into a polypeptide chain by means of the information stored in the genetic code See also transcribe

7. to move or carry from one place or position to another

8. (tr)

   1. to transfer (a cleric) from one ecclesiastical office to another

   2. to transfer (a see) from one place to another

9. (tr) RC Church to transfer (the body or the relics of a saint) from one resting place to another

10. (tr) theol to transfer (a person) from one place or plane of existence to another, as from earth to heaven

11. maths physics to move (a figure or body) laterally, without rotation, dilation, or angular displacement

12. (intr) (of an aircraft, missile, etc) to fly or move from one position to another

13. archaic (tr) to bring to a state of spiritual or emotional ecstasy

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• translatability
  noun
• translatableness
  noun
• untranslatability
  noun
• pretranslate
  verb (used with object)
• retranslate
  verb (used with object)
• half-translated
  adjective
• intertranslatable
  adjective
• translatable
  adjective
• untranslatable
  adjective
• untranslated
  adjective
• well-translated
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• translating
  present
• translated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• translate
  simple
• translates
  simple
• have translated
  perfect
• has translated
  perfect
• am translating
  progressive
• are translating
  progressive
• is translating
  progressive
• have been translating
  perfect progressive
• has been translating
  perfect progressive

Past

• translated
  simple
• had translated
  perfect
• was translating
  progressive
• were translating
  progressive
• had been translating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will translate
  simple
• will have translated
  perfect
• will be translating
  progressive
• will have been translating
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of translate

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English translaten, from Latin trānslātus “borne across,” past participle of trānsferre “to bear across,” from trāns- trans- + ferre “to bear, bring, carry” ( see also bear ¹); for the suppletive element -lātus, earlier tlātus (unrecorded), see also thole ², tolerate

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Explanation

To translate is to put into a different language or interpret. If your brother says, "Gee, Mom, all of my friends have really cool pets, like snakes and stuff," you can translate that statement to mean "I want a snake." Translate comes from the Latin translates, which means "carry across." The word isn't limited to talking about language. You can translate sales into dollars, or a play into a movie. When used that way, translate means changing something from one form to another.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

translate translates translated translating

But that’s changing as investors are demanding clearer proof that capital spending can translate into sustainable revenue growth, StoneX analyst Yi Fu Lee told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Still, he said, he hopes that Raman’s tough talk about McDonnell will translate into more accountability for the LAPD.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

Surely such powerful intelligence could translate discharge instructions into a patient’s preferred language?

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

"To better translate autophagy research discoveries into potential therapies, we really need to understand what is happening on a cell-specific level and how it is affected by sex and age."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

They thrust their parchments before me, and I feverishly translate their feelings into line and color.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

It translates other currencies into dollars using a method to smooth out exchange-rate fluctuations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

"This collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi reflects our commitment to advancing innovative, clinically relevant research that translates into meaningful improvements in patient care," said Dr. Sawsan Abdel-Razig, Chief Academic Officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

"Cannot wait for this," another said while another fan commented "anghygoel", which translates to amazing.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

That translates to the flu season landing about seven weeks earlier than in 2025 or 2024.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

However, that translates into an average expansion of only 8 miles per year, a trivial feat for a hunter-gatherer likely to cover that distance even within a single day’s normal foraging.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

There is a specific word for medical “side effects” in Bengali, but the A.I. translated it as “harmful side.”

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

That translated into 91 cents per share, compared with expectations for $1.10 per share.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

The organisation offers a free service providing travel certificates explaining a person's condition which can be shown to airport staff, but Lisa wants that information translated into better understanding.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

If the approach can be translated to people, it could remove much of the manufacturing, expense, and delay that currently limits access to CAR-T therapy.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

Boaz knew it was in Yiddish, but the subtitles that wavered on the floor translated.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Because revenue bonds, which would be used to fund this program, are riskier than other bonds, investors might demand a higher return, translating to a higher interest rate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

In a note last month, JPMorgan analysts said there are concerns about how quickly Oracle is translating orders into revenue, given the backdrop of data-center delays.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026

“Importantly, we are acting on our previously outlined priorities including restoring margins, increasing investment, reducing complexity, and rebalancing capital allocation, which are translating into measurable progress across the business,” Brase said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

"A new generation of deep-science startups is translating breakthroughs into products and transforming fields such as life sciences, space, robotics and clean energy."

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

They spent two mornings a week in the library with Dr. Perez and her flying llama translating all the different incants used by Marvellians from around the world.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

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Related Words

• convert
• decipher
• put
• render
• spell out
• transcribe
• turn

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