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interpret

Syllabification: (in·ter·pret)
Pronunciation: /inˈtərprit/
Translate interpret | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of interpret

verb (interprets, interpreting, interpreted)

[with object]
  • 1explain the meaning of (information, words, or actions):the evidence is difficult to interpret
  • [no object] translate orally or into sign language the words of a person speaking a different language:I agreed to interpret for Jean-Claude
  • perform (a dramatic role or piece of music) in a particular way that conveys one’s understanding of the creator’s ideas.
  • 2understand (an action, mood, or way of behaving) as having a particular meaning or significance:her self-confidence was often interpreted as brashness

Derivatives

interpretability

Pronunciation: /-ˌtərpritəˈbilitē/
noun

interpretable

adjective

interpretative

Pronunciation: /-ˌtātiv/
adjective

interpretatively

Pronunciation: /-ˌtātivlē/
adverb

interpretive

Pronunciation: /-ˈtərpritiv/
adjective

interpretively

Pronunciation: /-ˈtərpritivlē/
adverb

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French interpreter or Latin interpretari 'explain, translate', from interpres, interpret- 'agent, translator, interpreter'

Interpretative, which means ‘serving to interpret or explain,’ dates back to around 1560, but the shorter form interpretive, about a hundred years younger, is steadily pressing it out of employment. They mean the same thing, and both are correct. The traditional interpretative is still the preferred form in Britain, but in American usage, interpretive is far more common.

interpret in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of interpret in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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