transform

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French transformer, from Latin transformare, from trans- + formare to form, from forma form Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to change in composition or structure b. to change the outward form or appearance of c. to change in character or condition ; convert 2. to subject to mathematical transformation 3. to cause (a cell) to undergo genetic transformation intransitive verb to become transformed ; change • transformable adjective • transformative adjective Synonyms: 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

>. II. noun Date: 1853 1. a mathematical element obtained from another by transformation 2. transformation 3a(1), (2) 3. a linguistic structure (as a sentence) produced by means of a transformation <

“the duckling is killed by the farmer” is a transform of “the farmer kills the duckling”

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