Standard Lemma guide

transform

noun · verb · 16 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: trănsʹfôm
  • UK: tränsʹfôm
  • UK: /ˈtɹænsfɔːm/
  • UK: /ˈtɹɑːnsfɔːm/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: trănsʹfôrm
  • US: /ˈtɹænsfɔɹm/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)m
  • UK: trănsfômʹ
  • UK: tränsfômʹ
  • UK: /tɹænsˈfɔːm/
  • UK: /tɹɑːnsˈfɔːm/
  • US: trănsfôrmʹ
  • US: /tɹænsˈfɔɹm/
  • CMU ARPABET: T R AE0 N S F AO1 R M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: T R AE1 N S F AO0 R M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An operation (often an integration) that converts one function into another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: mathematical-analysis, mathematics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A function so produced.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A transform fault.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: geography, geology, natural-sciences, seismology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To change greatly the appearance or form of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The alchemists sought to transform lead into gold.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: convert, make over, transmogrify, transmute

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: alter, change

5

verb

Meaning 5

To change the nature, condition or function of; to change in nature, disposition, heart, character, etc.; to convert.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: transmogrify, transmute, convert, develop, draw, evolve, metamorphize, metamorphose, reconvert, shift, transfigurate, transfigure, transform, transume

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: alter, change, translate

6

verb

Meaning 6

To subject to a transformation; to change into another form without altering the value.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: mathematics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To subject to the action of a transformer.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: business, electrical-engineering, electricity, electromagnetism, energy, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To subject (a cell) to transformation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: biology, genetics, medicine, natural-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To undergo a transformation; to change in appearance or character.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: transmogrify, transmute, metamorphize, metamorphose, metamorphosize, transform

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: alter, change

10

verb

Meaning 10

change in outward structure or looks

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He transformed into a monster
  • The salesman metamorphosed into an ugly beetle

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: transmute, metamorphose

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change

Narrower terms: aurify, become, turn

11

verb

Meaning 11

increase or decrease (an alternating current or voltage)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

12

verb

Meaning 12

change (a bacterial cell) into a genetically distinct cell by the introduction of DNA from another cell of the same or closely related species

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

13

verb

Meaning 13

convert (one form of energy) to another

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • transform energy to light

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

14

verb

Meaning 14

change or alter in form, appearance, or nature

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This experience transformed her completely
  • She transformed the clay into a beautiful sculpture
  • transubstantiate one element into another

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: transmute, transubstantiate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

Narrower terms: transubstantiate, sorcerize, sorcerise, stalinize, stalinise, destalinize, destalinise, work, work on, process

15

verb

Meaning 15

change from one form or medium into another

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Braque translated collage into oil

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: translate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

Narrower terms: metricize, metricise, diagonalize, diagonalise

16

verb

Meaning 16

subject to a mathematical transformation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *terh2-der. Proto-Indo-European *térh2t Proto-Indo-European *-ónts Proto-Indo-European *tr̥h2ónts Proto-Indo-European *tr̥h2n̥ts Proto-Italic *trāns Proto-Italic *trāns- Latin trāns- Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ)der.? Latin fōrma Latin fōrmō Latin transformo Old French transformer Middle French transfourmerbor. Middle English transformen English transform From Middle English transformen, from Old French transformer, from Latin transformo, transformare, from trans (“across”, preposition) + forma (“form”).

Across languages

Translations

188 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: تحويل (tḥwil) — operation that converts a function
  • Arabic: طرانسفورماسيون (transfurmasyun) — operation that converts a function
  • Bulgarian: трансформация (transformacija) — operation that converts a function
  • Caló: transformada — operation that converts a function
  • Catalan: transformada — operation that converts a function
  • Chinese Mandarin: 变换 (biànhuàn) — operation that converts a function
  • French: transformée — operation that converts a function
  • Galician: transformada — operation that converts a function
  • Hebrew: התמרה (hatmara) — operation that converts a function
  • Italian: trasformata — operation that converts a function
  • Japanese: 変換 (henkan) — operation that converts a function
  • Ladino: transformada — operation that converts a function
  • Latin: transformatio — operation that converts a function
  • Portuguese: transformada — operation that converts a function
  • Sindhi: ٽرانسفارميشن (transformation) — operation that converts a function
  • Spanish: transformada — operation that converts a function
  • Arabic: تحويل (tḥwil) — function so produced
  • Caló: transformada — function so produced
  • Chinese Mandarin: 变换式 (biànhuànshì) — function so produced
  • French: transformée — function so produced
  • Hebrew: התמרה (hatmara) — function so produced
  • Italian: trasformata — function so produced
  • Japanese: 変換 (henkan) — function so produced
  • Ladino: transformada — function so produced
  • Latin: functio transformata — function so produced
  • Portuguese: transformada — function so produced
  • Spanish: transformada — function so produced
  • Afrikaans: transformeer — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Arabic: تَحَوَّلَ (taḥawwala) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Arabic: مَسَخَ (masaḵa) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Arabic: بدل (beddel) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Arabic: حول (ḥuwwel) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Armenian: վերածել (veracel) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Bulgarian: преобразу́вам (preobrazúvam) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Caló: transformar — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Catalan: transformar — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Chinese Mandarin: 變換 /变换 (biànhuàn) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Chinese Mandarin: 變形 /变形 (biànxíng) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Czech: proměnit — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Danish: transformere — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Danish: omdanne — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Esperanto: transformi — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Esperanto: aliformi — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Esperanto: aliformigi — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Finnish: muuttaa täysin — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • French: transformer — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Friulian: transformâ — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Friulian: stramudâ — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Galician: transformar — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • German: verwandeln — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • German: transformieren — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Gothic: 𐌲𐌰𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍉𐌽 (gagaleikōn) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Greek: μεταμορφώνω (metamorfóno) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Ancient Greek: μεταμορφόω (metamorphóō) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Ido: transformar — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Italian: trasformare — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Italian: modificare — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Japanese: 変形する (henkei suru) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Japanese: 変換する (henkan suru) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Korean: 변형시키다 (byeonhyeongsikida) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Korean: 변형하다 (byeonhyeonghada) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Central Kurdish: ھەڵگەڕان (hellgerran) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Ladino: transformar — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Latin: transfiguro — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Latin: muto — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Latin: perforo — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Latin: transformo — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Latin: immuto — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Māori: whakaahua — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Māori: whakaahuakē — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Māori: whakaumu — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Persian: ترادیسیدن (tarâdisidan) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Polish: przekształcać — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Polish: przemieniać — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Polish: przeobrażać — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Polish: transformować — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Polish: przeistaczać — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Portuguese: transformar — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Romanian: transforma — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Russian: преобража́ть (preobražátʹ) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Russian: преобрази́ть (preobrazítʹ) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Russian: трансформи́ровать (transformírovatʹ) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Russian: превраща́ть (prevraščátʹ) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Russian: преврати́ть (prevratítʹ) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Sicilian: strafurmari — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Sindhi: بدلائڻ (badla'inu) — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Spanish: trasformar — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Spanish: transformar — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Swedish: omvandla — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Swedish: transformera — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Tagalog: isaanyo — change greatly the appearance or form of
  • Arabic: بدلائڻ (ḥuwwel) — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Bulgarian: превръщам (prevrǎštam) — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Caló: transformar — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Chinese Mandarin: 改变 (gǎibiàn) — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Chinese Mandarin: 转化 (zhuǎnhuà) — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Esperanto: transformi — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Esperanto: aliformi — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Esperanto: aliformigi — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Finnish: muuntaa — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Finnish: muuttaa — change the nature, condition or function of
  • French: transformer — change the nature, condition or function of
  • German: umwandeln — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Hebrew: לשנות (leshanot) — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Italian: trasformare — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Japanese: 変質する (henshitsu suru) — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Ladino: transformar — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Latin: muto — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Latin: perforo — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Māori: whakaahua — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Māori: whakaahuakē — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Portuguese: transformar — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Romanian: transforma — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Russian: видоизменя́ть (vidoizmenjátʹ) — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Russian: видоизмени́ть (vidoizmenítʹ) — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Sindhi: تبديل ڪرڻ (tabdeel karanu) — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Spanish: transformar — change the nature, condition or function of
  • Arabic: حول (ḥuwwel) — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Arabic: طرانسفورمي (transfurmi) — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Bulgarian: превръщам (prevrǎštam) — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Caló: transformar — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 变换 (biànhuàn) — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Finnish: muuntaa — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • French: transformer — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • German: transformieren — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Hebrew: להתמיר (lehatmir) — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Italian: trasformare — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Japanese: 変換する (henkan suru) — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Ladino: transformar — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Latin: muto — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Latin: perforo — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Romanian: transforma — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Sindhi: ٽرانسفار ڪرڻ — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Spanish: transformar — in mathematics: subject to a transformation
  • Arabic: طرانسفورما (transfurma) — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Bulgarian: трансформирам (transformiram) — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Caló: transformar — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Finnish: muuntaa — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • French: transformer — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • German: transformieren — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Greek: μετασχηματίζω (metaschimatízo) — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Hebrew: להשניק (lehashnik) — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Hebrew: להתמיר (lehatmir) — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Italian: trasformare — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Japanese: 変換する (henkan suru) — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Ladino: transformar — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Latin: muto — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Latin: perforo — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Romanian: transforma — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Russian: преобразо́вывать (preobrazóvyvatʹ) — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Russian: преобразова́ть (preobrazovátʹ) — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Sindhi: ٽرانسفارم ڪرڻ — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Spanish: transformar — in electricity: subject to the action of a transformer
  • Arabic: حول (ḥuwwel) — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • Caló: transformar — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 转化 (zhuǎnhuà) — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • French: transformer — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • German: transformieren — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • Hebrew: להתמיר (lehatmir) — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • Japanese: 変態する (hentai suru) — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • Ladino: transformar — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • Latin: muto — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • Latin: perforo — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • Sindhi: ٽرانسفارم ڪرڻ — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • Spanish: transformar — in genetics: subject (a cell) to transformation
  • Arabic: تحول (tḥuwwel) — undergo a transformation
  • Bulgarian: превръщам се (prevrǎštam se) — undergo a transformation
  • Caló: transformarse — undergo a transformation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 转变 (zhuǎnbiàn) — undergo a transformation
  • Esperanto: aliformiĝi — undergo a transformation
  • Esperanto: aliiĝi — undergo a transformation
  • Esperanto: transformiĝi — undergo a transformation
  • Esperanto: evolui — undergo a transformation
  • Finnish: muuntua — undergo a transformation
  • Finnish: muuttua — undergo a transformation
  • Finnish: muuntautua — undergo a transformation
  • French: se transformer — undergo a transformation
  • Hebrew: להשתנות (lehishtanot) — undergo a transformation
  • Italian: trasformarsi — undergo a transformation
  • Japanese: 変化する (henka suru) — undergo a transformation
  • Ladino: transformarse — undergo a transformation
  • Latin: mutor — undergo a transformation
  • Latin: perforor — undergo a transformation
  • Latin: transfiguro — undergo a transformation
  • Sindhi: تبديل ٿيڻ (tabdeel thinu) — undergo a transformation
  • Spanish: transformarse — undergo a transformation
  • Spanish: trasformarse — undergo a transformation
  • Ottoman Turkish: دونمك (dönmek) — undergo a transformation
Real reading context

transform in complete knowledge articles