transpose

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UK/tɹænsˈpəʊz/UK/tɹɑːnsˈpəʊz/US/tɹænsˈpoʊz/US/ˈtɹænzpoʊz/

verb

To reverse or change the order of (two or more things); to swap or interchange.

Similar
exchangereducecancelinterchangeswapswap overswap roundswitch
OriginMiddle English transposen ← Old French transposer ← Latin trānspositus →
Less commonScrabble 11
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Meanings

transpose1

verbtranspose (third-person singular simple present transposes, present participle transposing, simple past and past participle transposed)

present singular third person transposes · participle present transposing · participle past transposed · past transposed

  1. transitiveTo reverse or change the order of (two or more things); to swap or interchange.

    Synonyms: exchange

  2. transitiveentertainmentTo rewrite or perform (a piece) in another key.
  3. transitivealgebraTo move (a term) from one side of an algebraic equation to the other, reversing the sign of the term.

    Synonyms: reduce, cancel

  4. transitivelinear algebraTo rearrange elements in a matrix, by interchanging their respective row and column positional indicators.
  5. transitivegraph theoryTo reverse the direction of every edge of (a graph).
  6. transitivelawTo give force to a directive by passing appropriate implementation measures.
  7. intransitiveboard gamesTo reach a position that may also be obtained from a different move order.

    After e6, the opening transposed to a Sicilian.

adjectivetranspose (not comparable)
  1. not comparablelinear algebraCreated by transposing a specified matrix.
  2. not comparablegraph theoryCreated by transposing a specified graph.
nountranspose (plural transposes)

plural transposes

  1. linear algebraThe matrix derived from performing a transpose operation on a given matrix.
  2. graph theoryA graph whose every edge has had its direction reversed.

    Synonyms: converse, reverse

transpose2

nountranspose (plural transposes)

plural transposes

  1. linear algebraThe process of rearranging elements in a matrix, by interchanging their respective row and column positional indicators.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo reverse or change the order of (two or more things); to swap or interchange.

Similar
exchange

verbTo move (a term) from one side of an algebraic equation to the other, reversing the sign of the term.

Similar
reducecancel

nounA graph whose every edge has had its direction reversed.

Similar
conversereverse
Similar
interchangeswapswap overswap roundswitch

More synonyms by meaning

verbchange the order or arrangement of

Similar
permutecommute
Broader
change by reversalturnreverse

verbtransfer from one place or period to another

Similar
transfertransplant
Broader
shift

verbcause to change places

Similar
counterchangeinterchange
Broader
changealtermodify

verbexchange positions without a change in value

Similar
commute
Broader
change
Also see
commuteconversecounterchangeinterchangemovepermutepositionreverseshiftswitchtransfertransplant

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

transpose · verb, adjective, noun

  1. Latintrānspositus
  2. Old Frenchtransposer
  3. Middle Englishtransposen
  4. Englishtranspose

From Middle English transposen, from Old French transposer, from Latin trānspositus, perfect passive participle of trānspōnō (“to put across”), from trāns (“across”) + pōnō (“to put”).

More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

transpose · noun

From the verb.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek παραλλάσσω
  • παραλλάσσω (parallássō)to reverse or change the order of two
Bulgarian разме́ствам, пренасям
  • разме́ствам (razméstvam)to reverse or change the order of two
  • пренасям (prenasjam)algebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
Catalan transportar
  • transportarmusic: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
Czech transponovat, transponovat
  • transponovatmusic: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
  • transponovatmathematics: to rearrange elements in a matrix
Dutch verwisselen, omwisselen
  • verwisselento reverse or change the order of two
  • omwisselento reverse or change the order of two
Esperanto transponi, transponi
  • transponimusic: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
  • transponialgebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
  • transponomatrix
Finnish vaihtaa paikkaa, sekoittaa keskenään
  • vaihtaa paikkaato reverse or change the order of two
  • sekoittaa keskenäänto reverse or change the order of two
  • transponoidamusic: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
  • transpoosimatrix
French transposer, transposée
  • transposerto reverse or change the order of two
  • transposéematrix
  • matrice transposéematrix
German vertauschen, umstellen
  • vertauschento reverse or change the order of two
  • umstellento reverse or change the order of two
  • die Reihenfolge ändernto reverse or change the order of two
  • transponierenmusic: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
  • transponierenalgebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
  • umstellenalgebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
  • umformenalgebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
  • Transponiertematrix
Greek αναστρέφω, αντιμεταθέτω
  • αναστρέφω (anastréfo)to reverse or change the order of two
  • αντιμεταθέτω (antimetathéto)to reverse or change the order of two
  • διασκευάζω (diaskevázo)music: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
  • αντιμεταθέτω (antimetathéto)algebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
Hungarian felcserél, áthelyez
  • felcserélto reverse or change the order of two
  • áthelyezto reverse or change the order of two
  • átteszto reverse or change the order of two
  • transzponálmusic: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
  • rendezalgebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
  • transzponálmathematics: to rearrange elements in a matrix
  • átültetlaw: to give force to a directive by passing appropriate implementation measures
Icelandic bylta, bylt fylki
  • byltamatrix
  • bylt fylkimatrix
Italian scambiare, trasporre
  • scambiareto reverse or change the order of two
  • trasporremusic: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
  • trasferirealgebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
  • trasporremathematics: to rearrange elements in a matrix
  • attuarelaw: to give force to a directive by passing appropriate implementation measures
  • implementarelaw: to give force to a directive by passing appropriate implementation measures
  • trasposizionematrix
Māori wehe, tau whakawhiti
  • weheto reverse or change the order of two
  • tau whakawhitito reverse or change the order of two
  • tauwhakawhitialgebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
Portuguese transpor, transpor
  • transporto reverse or change the order of two
  • transpormusic: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
  • passaralgebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
Russian переставля́ть, переста́вить
  • переставля́ть (perestavljátʹ)to reverse or change the order of two
  • переста́вить (perestávitʹ)to reverse or change the order of two
  • переноси́ть (perenosítʹ)to reverse or change the order of two
  • перенести́ (perenestí)to reverse or change the order of two
  • транспони́ровать (transponírovatʹ)music: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
  • переставля́ть (perestavljátʹ)algebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
  • переста́вить (perestávitʹ)algebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
  • переноси́ть (perenosítʹ)algebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
  • перенести́ (perenestí)algebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
Spanish transponer, reversar
  • transponerto reverse or change the order of two
  • reversarto reverse or change the order of two
  • transportarmusic: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
  • cambiar de miembroalgebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
  • transponeralgebra: to move (a term) to the other side of an equation
  • matriz traspuestamatrix
Swedish transponera, transponat
  • transponeramusic: to write or perform (a piece) in another key
  • transponatmatrix
  • transponerad matrismatrix

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with transpose

closegoesosrosefollowsclothesknowsJosedosnosechosehoseproposediscloseposeimposefellowsopposeexposeprosebosecomposedisposeenclose
All rhymes →

Anagrams

patronesssparstone
Cite this entry
APA

transpose. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/transpose

MLA

“transpose.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/transpose. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “transpose,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/transpose.

Source: transpose on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.