Dictionary

interpret en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ɪnˈtɜː.pɹɪt/ (California)
• [ɛnˈtɝ.pɹɛt] (California) California Vowel Shift
• /ɪnˈtɜː.pɹɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (California, Southern) audio
• /ˈin.tɚ.pɹɛt/ (Philippines)
• /ənˈtøː.pɹət/ (New-Zealand)
• /ɪn.tɚˈpɹɛt/ (Philippines)
• /ɪnˈtɝ.pɹɪt/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ɪnˈtɜː.pɹɪt/ (Australia)

Etymology

From Middle English interpreten, from Old French enterpreter, (French interpréter), from Latin interpretor (“to explain, expound, interpret”), past participle interpretatus, from interpres (“an agent, broker, explainer, interpreter, negotiator”), from inter (“between”) + -pres, probably the root of pretium (“price”); -pres is probably connected with Ancient Greek φράζειν (phrázein, “to point out, show, explain, declare, speak”), from which φραδή (phradḗ, “understanding”), φράσις (phrásis, “speech”); see phrase.

Meanings

1. To decode the meaning of a topic and then act, whether to continue researching the topic, follow through, act in opposition, or further the understanding through sharing an interpretation.
2. 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.
   • The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives.[…]who, if anyone, is policing their use[?] Such concerns were sharpened further by the continuing revelations about how the US National Security Agency (NSA) has been using algorithms to help it interpret the colossal amounts of data it has collected from its covert dragnet of international telecommunications. 2013 July 26, Leo Hickman, “How algorithms rule the world”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 26:
   • The Holy Bible, Genesis xli. 8. And Pharaoh told them his dreams; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
   • to interpret an Indian speech
   • The Holy Bible, Matthew i. 23. Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
3. To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation.
   • an artist interprets a landscape
   • The way the musician interpreted a sonata was quite special.
   • The actor interpreted the character of Hamlet with great skill.
4. (intransitive) To convey what a user of one language is saying or signing, in real time or shortly after that person has finished communicating, to a user of a different language.
   • He interpreted at the meeting between the Chinese and French associates.
5. (transitive) To analyse or execute (a program) by reading the instructions as they are encountered, rather than compiling in advance.

Forms

Deriveds

overinterpret · preinterpret · interpretory

Relateds

interpreter · interpretative · interpretive · interpretted · reinterpret · interpretament · interpretation · misinterpret · interpretable · interpret away

Synonyms

unravel · unfold · elucidate · construe · take · expound · understand · explain · construe · solve · translate · decipher · render

Translations (106)

hu fordít (to act as an interpreter) · es interpretar (to act as an interpreter) · gd eadar-mhìnich (to explain or tell the meaning of) · ca interpretar (to explain or tell the meaning of) · nl tolken (to act as an interpreter) · ru толкова́ть (to explain or tell the meaning of) · ru интерпрети́ровать (to explain or tell the meaning of) · fi tulkita (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · az şifahi tərcümə etmək (to act as an interpreter) · be інтэрпрэтава́ць (to explain or tell the meaning of) · nn tolke (to act as an interpreter) · de interpretieren (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · pt interpretar (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · de interpretieren (to explain or tell the meaning of) · id menafsirkan (to explain or tell the meaning of) · be пераклада́ць (to act as an interpreter) · hu értelmez (to explain or tell the meaning of) · hi अर्थ लगाना (to explain or tell the meaning of) · cmn 傳譯 /传译 (to act as an interpreter) · nb tolke (to act as an interpreter) · km បកប្រែ (to act as an interpreter) · hu tolmácsol (to act as an interpreter) · hi निर्वचन करना (to explain or tell the meaning of) · it interpretare (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · grc μεταφράζω (to act as an interpreter) · nl interpreteren (to explain or tell the meaning of) · hu előad (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · fi tulkita (to explain or tell the meaning of) · el διερμηνεύω (to act as an interpreter) · es exponer (to explain or tell the meaning of) · vi diễn giải (to explain or tell the meaning of) · uk інтерпретува́ти (to explain or tell the meaning of) · th ตีความ (to explain or tell the meaning of) · uk витлума́чувати (to explain or tell the meaning of) · bg интерпретирам (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · hu megfejt (to explain or tell the meaning of) · ar أَوَّلَ (to explain or tell the meaning of) · pt traduzir (to act as an interpreter) · got 𐌲𐌰𐍃𐌺𐌴𐌹𐍂𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to explain or tell the meaning of) · es explicar (to explain or tell the meaning of) · uk ви́тлумачити (to explain or tell the meaning of) · pt interpretar (to explain or tell the meaning of) · yi טײַטשן (to explain or tell the meaning of) · ru объясни́ть (to explain or tell the meaning of) · bg тълку́вам (to explain or tell the meaning of) · sv tolka (to explain or tell the meaning of) · es interpretar (to explain or tell the meaning of) · cs tlumočit (to act as an interpreter) · ja 解説する (to explain or tell the meaning of) · sv tolka (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · la interpretor (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · it interpretare (to explain or tell the meaning of) · de übersetzen (to act as an interpreter) · ko 통역하다 (to act as an interpreter) · az dilmanclıq etmək (to act as an interpreter) · it interpretare (to act as an interpreter) · sv tolka (to act as an interpreter) · fi tulkata (to act as an interpreter) · bg обяснявам (to explain or tell the meaning of) · ca interpretar (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · de dolmetschen (to act as an interpreter) · ja 通訳する (to act as an interpreter) · el ερμηνεύω (to explain or tell the meaning of) · eo interpreti (to explain or tell the meaning of) · be перакла́сці (to act as an interpreter) · pl interpretować (to explain or tell the meaning of) · he דּוֹבֵב (to explain or tell the meaning of) · ro interpreta (to act as an interpreter) · hu tolmácsol (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · hu magyaráz (to explain or tell the meaning of) · th แปล (to act as an interpreter) · da fortolke (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · ar فَسَّرَ (to explain or tell the meaning of) · ca interpretar (to act as an interpreter) · fi tulkita (to explain or tell the meaning of) · grc ἑρμηνεύω (to explain or tell the meaning of) · mk протолкува (to explain or tell the meaning of) · el ερμηνεύω (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · ja 演奏する (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · la interpretor (to explain or tell the meaning of) · ru объясня́ть (to explain or tell the meaning of) · ko 해석하다 (to explain or tell the meaning of) · fr interpréter (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · ru переводи́ть (to act as an interpreter) · vi dịch (to act as an interpreter) · pl zinterpretować (to explain or tell the meaning of) · es interpretar (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · ja 演出する (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · mi whakamāori (to explain or tell the meaning of) · cs vyložit (to explain or tell the meaning of) · ro traduce (to act as an interpreter) · uk тлума́чити (to explain or tell the meaning of) · ru перевести́ (to act as an interpreter) · nl vertalen (to act as an interpreter) · id mengartikan (to explain or tell the meaning of) · da tolke (to act as an interpreter) · ro interpreta (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · bg превеждам (to act as an interpreter) · fr interpréter (to act as an interpreter) · cmn 翻譯 /翻译 (to act as an interpreter) · fr traduire (to act as an interpreter) · ru истолкова́ть (to explain or tell the meaning of) · gd eadar-mhìnich (to act as an interpreter) · ro interpreta (to explain or tell the meaning of) · cs interpretovat (to apprehend and represent by means of art) · ru интерпрети́ровать (to apprehend and represent by means of art)