First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
transmute
verb trans·mute \tran(t)s-ˈmyüt, tranz-\
: to completely change the form, appearance, or nature of (someone or something)
trans·mutedtrans·mut·ing
Full Definition of TRANSMUTE
transitive verb
1
: to change or alter in form, appearance, or nature and especially to a higher form
2
: to subject (as an element) to transmutation
intransitive verb
: to undergo transmutation
— trans·mut·able \-ˈmyü-tə-bəl\ adjective
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Origin of TRANSMUTE
Middle English, from Latin transmutare, from trans- + mutare to change — more at mutable
Related to TRANSMUTE
- Synonyms
- alchemize, make over, metamorphose, transfigure, transform, convert, transpose, transubstantiate
Synonym Discussion of TRANSMUTE
transform, metamorphose, transmute, convert, transmogrify, transfigure mean to change a thing into a different thing. transform implies a major change in form, nature, or function <transformed a small company into a corporate giant>. metamorphose suggests an abrupt or startling change induced by or as if by magic or a supernatural power <awkward girls metamorphosed into graceful ballerinas>. transmute implies transforming into a higher element or thing <attempted to transmute lead into gold>. convert implies a change fitting something for a new or different use or function <converted the study into a nursery>. transmogrify suggests a strange or preposterous metamorphosis <a story in which a frog is transmogrified into a prince>. transfigure implies a change that exalts or glorifies <joy transfigured her face>.
Rhymes with TRANSMUTE
acute, astute, Asyût, bear fruit, beetroot, Beirut, birthroot, bloodroot, breadfruit, butut, cahoot, Canute, catsuit, cheroot, choucroute, clubroot, commute, compute, confute, crapshoot, cube root, deaf-mute, depute, dilute, dispute, dry suit, elute, en route, enroot, flight suit, folkmoot, freeboot, galoot, grapefruit, G suit, hardboot, hip boot, hirsute, imbrute, impute, jackboot, jackfruit, jumpsuit, kashruth, lawsuit, long suit, lounge suit, minute, nonsuit, offshoot, outshoot, Paiute, pantsuit, permute, playsuit, pollute, pursuit, recruit, refute, repute, salute, sans doute, seaboot, snowsuit, solute, square root, star fruit, star route, statute, strong suit, sunsuit, sweat suit, swimsuit, take root, taproot, to boot, tracksuit, trade route, tribute, uproot, volute, wet suit
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