/ trænsˈleɪt; NAmE ; trænz-/ verb
1.
translate (sth) (from sth) (into sth) | translate sth (as sth) to express the meaning of speech or writing in a different language :
[ vn ]
He translated the letter into English.
Her books have been translated into 24 languages.
'Suisse' had been wrongly translated as 'Sweden'.
Can you help me translate this legal jargon into plain English?
[ v ]
I don't speak Greek so Dina offered to translate for me.
My work involves translating from German.
2.
[ v ] translate (as sth) to be changed from one language to another :
Most poetry does not translate well.
The Welsh name translates as 'Land's End'.
3.
translate (sth) (into sth) to change sth, or to be changed, into a different form :
[ vn ]
It's time to translate words into action.
[ v ]
I hope all the hard work will translate into profits.
4.
translate (sth) (as sth) to understand sth in a particular way or give sth a particular meaning
SYN interpret :
[ vn ]
the various words and gestures that we translate as love
[also v ]
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Latin translat- carried across, past participle of transferre , from trans- across + ferre to bear.