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transform

trans·form

UK/tɹænsˈfɔːm/UK/tɹɑːnsˈfɔːm/US/tɹænsˈfɔɹm/UK/ˈtɹænsfɔːm/

verb

What it means

  1. transitiveTo change greatly the appearance or form of.

    The alchemists sought to transform lead into gold.

    3 more examples

    Love may transform me to an oyster.

    1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]

    Creating a complete map of the human connectome would therefore be a monumental milestone but not the end of the journey to understanding how our brains work. The achievement will transform neuroscience and serve as the starting point for asking questions we could not otherwise have answered, […].

    2012 March-April, Terrence J. Sejnowski, “Well-connected Brains”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 27 Apr 2017, page 171

    Among its findings, the report says: "In recent years we have seen more stations transformed from run-down Victorian hulks, or spartan bus-sheltered platforms, into places that people can take pride in, feel comfortable in using, and which are fulfilling more of their wider potential.

    2020 August 26, “Network News: Stations investment boosts regeneration, says report”, in Rail, page 17

    Synonyms: convert, make over, transmogrify, transmute

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

    Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 12:2

    Synonyms: transmogrify, transmute, convert, develop, draw, evolve, metamorphize, metamorphose

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

In a sentence

The alchemists sought to transform lead into gold.

Where it comes from

  1. Proto-Indo-European*terh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*térh₂t
  3. Proto-Indo-European*tr̥h₂ónts
  4. Proto-Indo-European*tr̥h₂n̥ts
  5. Proto-Italic*trāns
  6. Proto-Italic*trāns-
  7. Latintrāns-
  8. Ancient Greekμορφή (morphḗ)der.?
  9. Latinfōrma
  10. Latinfōrmō
  11. Latintransformo
  12. Old Frenchtransformer
  13. Middle Frenchtransfourmer
  14. Middle Englishtransformen
  15. Englishtransform

From Middle English transformen, from Old French transformer, from Latin transformo, transformare, from trans (“across”, preposition) + forma (“form”).

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