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

It’s almost too perfect, that show title: Transpose that kind of probing to the darker elements of American mythology, and you’ve got an ideal tagline for AHS in general.

From Slate • Jan. 25, 2013

Said Columnist Walker's Astrologer: "Transpose fossan and you get OSSANF, the initials of Hitler's title, Oberster Sturm-Scharen-Anf�hrer."

From Time Magazine Archive

Transpose the last two digits, he suggested: 1984 is really 1948.

From Time Magazine Archive

Transpose parts up a major sixth for alto sax, and up an octave plus a major sixth for bari sax.

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

Transpose C parts up one whole step for B flat instruments.

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