TRANSFORM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does transform mean? 

• TRANSFORM (verb)
  The verb TRANSFORM has 7 senses:

1. subject to a mathematical transformation

2. change or alter in form, appearance, or nature

3. change in outward structure or looks

4. change from one form or medium into another

5. convert (one form of energy) to another

6. change (a bacterial cell) into a genetically distinct cell by the introduction of DNA from another cell of the same or closely related species

7. increase or decrease (an alternating current or voltage)

  Familiarity information: TRANSFORM used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRANSFORM (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they transform    ... he / she / it transforms   
Past simple: transformed   
Past participle: transformed   
-ing form: transforming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Subject to a mathematical transformation

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "transform" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

transformation ((mathematics) a function that changes the position or direction of the axes of a coordinate system)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Change or alter in form, appearance, or nature

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

transform; transmute; transubstantiate

Context example:

transubstantiate one element into another

Hypernyms (to "transform" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "transform"):

transubstantiate (change (the Eucharist bread and wine) into the body and blood of Christ)

sorcerise; sorcerize (transform or change by means of sorcery)

stalinise; stalinize (transform in accordance with Stalin's policies)

destalinise; destalinize (counteract the effects and policies of Stalinism)

process; work; work on (shape, form, or improve a material)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

transformation (the act of changing in form or shape or appearance)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Change in outward structure or looks

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

metamorphose; transform; transmute

Context example:

The salesman metamorphosed into an ugly beetle

Hypernyms (to "transform" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "transform"):

aurify (transform into gold)

become; turn (undergo a change or development)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 4

Meaning:

Change from one form or medium into another

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

transform; translate

Context example:

Braque translated collage into oil

Hypernyms (to "transform" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "transform"):

metricise; metricize (express in the metric system)

diagonalise; diagonalize (transform a matrix to a diagonal matrix)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 5

Meaning:

Convert (one form of energy) to another

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

transform energy to light

Hypernyms (to "transform" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Domain category:

natural philosophy; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Change (a bacterial cell) into a genetically distinct cell by the introduction of DNA from another cell of the same or closely related species

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "transform" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Domain category:

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

transformation ((genetics) modification of a cell or bacterium by the uptake and incorporation of exogenous DNA)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Increase or decrease (an alternating current or voltage)

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "transform" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Domain category:

natural philosophy; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

transformer (an electrical device by which alternating current of one voltage is changed to another voltage)

 Context examples 

The accuracy of the test is comparable to similar biomarkers used in cancer, which have helped transform treatment, say the researchers.

(New prognostic test could enable personalised treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, University of Cambridge)

The coming of Maud Brewster into my life seemed to have transformed me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

A transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-beta2) antisense gene-modified allogeneic tumor cell vaccine with potential immunostimulatory and antineoplastic activities.

(Belagenpumatucel-L, NCI Thesaurus)

A transforming gene activated in certain human B lymphoid tumors, B-lym was originally detected by transfection of NIH 3T3 cells with DNA from Burkitt lymphomas.

(Oncogene B-LYM, NCI Thesaurus)

It is an indication that the cells have been transformed.

(Anchorage-Independent Growth, NCI Thesaurus)

Decreased levels of furin lead to a reduction in the conversion of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta into TGF beta1 and beta2 protein isoforms.

(bi-shRNA-Furin/GM-CSF-Expressing Autologous Tumor Cell Vaccine, NCI Thesaurus)

You’ve heard how some people say they were transformed by love?

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The glycoprotein endoglin is a transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF beta-1) accessory receptor that is highly expressed on tumor vessel endothelial cells and appears to be essential for angiogenesis.

(Anti-Endoglin Chimeric Monoclonal Antibody TRC105, NCI Thesaurus)

MALT consists of a collection of predominantly small lymphocytes, fewer larger, transformed lymphocytes, and plasma cells.

(Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes BMP and activin membrane-bound inhibitor homolog protein, may play a role in the attenuation of transforming growth factor-beta signaling.

(BAMBI wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)