definitions

transliterate

[ trans-lit-uh-reyt, tranz- ]
/ trænsˈlɪt əˌreɪt, trænz- /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR transliterate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), trans·lit·er·at·ed, trans·lit·er·at·ing.

to change (letters, words, etc.) into corresponding characters of another alphabet or language: to transliterate the Greek Χ as ch.

RELATED CONTENT

How Do You Spell Chanukah (Or Is It Hanukkah)?Hanukkah has commenced. So has Chanukah, Hannukah, Hannukkah, and Channukah. Why is this Jewish holiday, also known as the Festival of Lights, spelled in so many ways?
READ MORE
The Surprisingly Religious Background Of “Golly,” “Gosh,” And “Gee”Gosh, golly, and gee casually express surprise or excitement, right? Well, yes, but when they were first introduced to the English language, these short words had a much more serious origin and purpose.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

explanation, rendering, version, adaptation, rendition, reading, transcription, elucidation, gloss, crib, construction, restatement, key, paraphrase, simplification, decoding, rephrasing, metaphrase

Nearby words

translation, translation dictionary, translation of axes, translative, translator, transliterate, translocate, translocation, translocation down syndrome, translucent, translucid

Origin of transliterate

1860–65; trans- + Latin līter(a) letter1 + -ate1

Related forms

trans·lit·er·a·tion, nountrans·lit·er·a·tor, noun

Can be confused

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

Examples from the Web for transliteration

British Dictionary definitions for transliteration

transliterate

/ (trænzˈlɪtəˌreɪt) /

verb

(tr) to transcribe (a word, etc, in one alphabet) into corresponding letters of another alphabetthe Greek word λογοσ can be transliterated as ``logos''

Derived Forms

transliteration, nountransliterator, noun

Word Origin for transliterate

C19: trans- + -literate, from Latin līttera letter
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