translation

[ trans-ley-shuhn, tranz- ]

noun

1. the rendering of something into another language or into one's own from another language.
2. a version of such a rendering:

   a new translation of Plato.

3. change or conversion to another form, appearance, etc.; transformation:

   a swift translation of thought into action.

4. the act or process of translating.
5. the state of being translated.
6. Mechanics. motion in which all particles of a body move with the same velocity along parallel paths.
7. Telegraphy. the retransmitting or forwarding of a message, as by relay.
8. Mathematics.
   1. a function obtained from a given function by adding the same constant to each value of the variable of the given function and moving the graph of the function a constant distance to the right or left.
   2. a transformation in which every point of a geometric figure is moved the same distance in the same direction.
9. Genetics. the process by which a messenger RNA molecule specifies the linear sequence of amino acids on a ribosome for protein synthesis. Compare genetic code ( def ).

translation

/ trænz-; trænsˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. something that is or has been translated, esp a written text
2. the act of translating or the state of being translated
3. maths a transformation in which the origin of a coordinate system is moved to another position so that each axis retains the same direction or, equivalently, a figure or curve is moved so that it retains the same orientation to the axes

translation

/ trăns-lā′shən /

1. Biochemistry.
   The process in the ribosomes of a cell by which a strand of messenger RNA directs the assembly of a sequence of amino acids to make a protein.
2. Biochemistry.
   Compare transcription
3. Physics.
   Motion of a body in which every point of the body moves parallel to and the same distance as every other point of the body.
4. Mathematics.
   The changing of the coordinates of points to coordinates that are referred to new axes that are parallel to the old axes.

Derived Forms

• transˈlational, adjective

Other Words From

• trans·la·tion·al adjective
• trans·la·tion·al·ly adverb
• pre·trans·la·tion noun
• re·trans·la·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of translation¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin trānslātiōn- (stem of trānslātiō ) “a transferring,” equivalent to trānslāt(us) ( translate ) + -iōn- -ion; replacing Middle English translacioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. lose something in translation. lose in translation.

Synonym Study

Translation , paraphrase , version refer to a rewording of something. A translation is a rendering of the same ideas in a different language from the original: a translation from Greek into English. A paraphrase is a free rendering of the sense of a passage in other words, usually in the same language: a paraphrase of a poem. A version is a translation, especially of the Bible, or else an account of something illustrating a particular point of view: the Douay Version.

Example Sentences

When Mulan returns to the imperial court, the emperor offers her prizes and promotions, but Mulan asks only for a steed — in some translations a horse, in others a donkey — so that she can go back home to her family.

From Vox

Nevertheless, this complicated shape allowed the three researchers to access the rich theory of translation surfaces.

From Quanta Magazine

“The conditions are being formed in the country in which a tech business cannot function,” the letter reads, according to a translation from Radio Free Europe.

From Quartz

For instance, it has a strategic agreement with Alibaba Cloud to embed its translation services in the company’s technology.

From MIT Technology Review

At face value, it might look like its services are used to improve translation quality, but in reality they are also used to build other products, including products connected to national security work.

From MIT Technology Review

One is, of course, inevitably up against the problem of translation when speaking of names.

From The Daily Beast

The translation agency only advertises for girls with “no complexes”: code for being prepared to bed the client.

From The Daily Beast

A look at the new translation of the works of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

From The Daily Beast

Translation: What plays to the base is not what plays to the middle.

From The Daily Beast

CNN did the helpful translation for us, though: Duck Dynasty was simply too profitable for A&E to halt filming.

From The Daily Beast

In the following words, the vowels have no figure value, hence in translation are never counted.

From Project Gutenberg

Christopher Smart, an English poet and miscellaneous writer, died; known by a popular translation of Horace.

From Project Gutenberg

His sayings come to us through several hands, and through more than one translation.

From Project Gutenberg

Messrs. Thomas Nelson and Sons have generously co-operated in permitting the use of the best translation.

From Project Gutenberg

The translation should be compared with the original F. text, as given below it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adaptation
• explanation
• reading
• rendering
• rendition
• transcription
• version