INTERPRET

understand, read, interpret, translate

(verb) make sense of a language; “She understands French”; “Can you read Greek?”

interpret, construe, see

(verb) make sense of; assign a meaning to; “What message do you see in this letter?”; “How do you interpret his behavior?”

rede, interpret

(verb) give an interpretation or explanation to

translate, interpret, render

(verb) restate (words) from one language into another language; “I have to translate when my in-laws from Austria visit the U.S.”; “Can you interpret the speech of the visiting dignitaries?”; “She rendered the French poem into English”; “He translates for the U.N.”

represent, interpret

(verb) create an image or likeness of; “The painter represented his wife as a young girl”

interpret, render

(verb) give an interpretation or rendition of; “The pianist rendered the Beethoven sonata beautifully”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

interpret (third-person singular simple present interprets, present participle interpreting, simple past and past participle interpreted)

To explain or tell the meaning of; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms. applied especially to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc.

To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation

(intransitive) To act as an interpreter.

(computing, transitive) To analyse or execute (a program) by reading the instructions as they are encountered, rather than compiling in advance.

Synonyms

• translate, explain, solve, render, expound, elucidate, decipher, unfold, unravel

Source: Wiktionary


In*ter"pret, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Interpreted; p. pr. & vb. n. Interpreting.] Etym: [F. interprĂŞter, L. interpretari, p. p. interpretatus, fr. interpre interpeter, agent, negotiator; inter between + (prob.) the root of pretium price. See Price.]

1. To explain or tell the meaning of; to expound; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms; to decipher; to define; -- applied esp. to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc.; as, to interpret the Hebrew language to an Englishman; to interpret an Indian speech. Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matt. i. 23. And Pharaoh told them his dreams; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. Gen. xli. 8.

2. To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation; as, an actor interprets the character of Hamlet; a musician interprets a sonata; an artist interprets a landscape.

Syn.

– To translate; explain; solve; render; expound; elucidate; decipher; unfold; unravel.

In*ter"pret, v. i.

Definition: To act as an interpreter. Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

15 May 2025

PARSIMONIOUS

(adjective) excessively unwilling to spend; “parsimonious thrift relieved by few generous impulses”; “lived in a most penurious manner--denying himself every indulgence”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

The first coffee-house in Mecca dates back to the 1510s. The beverage was in Turkey by the 1530s. It appeared in Europe circa 1515-1519 and was introduced to England by 1650. By 1675 the country had more than 3,000 coffee houses, and coffee had replaced beer as a breakfast drink.

coffee icon