transpose

American  

[trans-pohz, trans-pohz] / trænsˈpoʊz, ˈtræns poʊz /

verb (used with object)

transposed, transposing

1. to change the relative position, order, or sequence of; cause to change places; interchange.

   to transpose the third and fourth letters of a word.

   Synonyms:

   rearrange

2. to transfer or transport.

3. Algebra. to bring (a term) from one side of an equation to the other, with corresponding change of sign.

   Synonyms:

   invert

4. Mathematics. (of a matrix) to interchange rows and columns.

5. Music. to reproduce in a different key, by raising or lowering in pitch.

   Synonyms:

   rearrange

6. to transform; transmute.

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verb (used without object)

transposed, transposing

1. to perform a piece of music in a key other than the one in which it is written.

   to transpose at sight.

noun

1. Mathematics. a matrix formed from a given matrix by transposing.

transpose British  

/ trænsˈpəʊz /

verb

1. (tr) to alter the positions of; interchange, as words in a sentence; put into a different order

2. music

   1. to play (notes, music, etc) in a different key from that originally intended

   2. to move (a note or series of notes) upwards or downwards in pitch

3. (tr) maths to move (a term) from one side of an equation to the other with a corresponding reversal in sign

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noun

1. maths the matrix resulting from interchanging the rows and columns of a given matrix

transpose Scientific  

/ trăns-pōz′ /

1. To move a term or quantity from one side of an algebraic equation to the other by adding or subtracting that term to or from both sides. By subtracting 2 from both sides of the equation 2 + x = 4, one can transpose the 2 to the other side, yielding x = 4 − 2, and thus determine that x equals 2.

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Other Word Forms

• nontransposable adjective
• nontransposing adjective
• transposability noun
• transposable adjective
• transposal noun
• transposer noun
• untransposed adjective

Etymology

Origin of transpose

1350–1400; Middle English transposen to transmute < Middle French transposer. See trans-, pose ¹

Explanation

If you transpose something, you change the order. You could transpose the phrases in that first sentence by writing, "You change the order if you transpose something." In music, you also transpose when you change the key. When a song is a little high for you, you can transpose it to bring it down into your natural range. In math, to transpose is to move something from one side of an equation to another. In the equation x + 3 = 2y, you can solve for x by transposing the 3 to the other side of the equation, which will change its sign and give you x = 2y - 3.

Example Sentences

Given that many of the aggregate level assumptions have changed, it is somewhat pointless to try to transpose this onto individual bank loss estimates, analysts write.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Nicole Eun-Ju Bell’s video and projection designs subtly transpose the setting when, for instance, Umma meets up with her son at church.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Kingsolver explained that it was "challenging and also fun to transpose Victorian characters and situations to my own place and time" for her 10th novel.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2023

Ukraine will have to transpose its national law to extensive EU legal standards from climate to labour to health, among others.

From Reuters • Feb. 2, 2023

Because of this, some horn players learn to transpose at sight.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones