- translate
- [[t]trænzle͟ɪt[/t]]
translates, translating, translated1) VERB If something that someone has said or written is translated from one language into another, it is said or written again in the second language.
[be V-ed into/from n] Only a small number of Kadare's books have been translated into English...
[V n into/from n] Martin Luther translated the Bible into German...
[be V-ed as n] The Celtic word `geis' is usually translated as `taboo'...
The girls waited for Mr Esch to translate.
[V-ed] ...Mr Mani by Yehoshua, translated from Hebrew by Hillel Halkin. [Also V n, V n as n]
Derived words:translation N-UNCOUNTThe papers have been sent to Saudi Arabia for translation.
2) VERB If a name, a word, or expression translates as something in a different language, that is what it means in that language.[V as n] His family's Cantonese nickname for him translates as Never Sits Still.
3) V-ERG If one thing translates or is translated into another, the second happens or is done as a result of the first.[V into n] Reforming Warsaw's stagnant economy requires harsh measures that would translate into job losses...
[be V-ed into n] Your decision must be translated into specific, concrete actions.
4) V-ERG If you say that a remark, a gesture, or an action translates as something, or that you translate it as something, you decide that this is what its significance is.[V as n] `I love him' often translates as `He's better than nothing'...
[V n as n] I translated this as a mad desire to lock up every single person with HIV.
5) → See also translation
English dictionary. 2008.