TRANSFORMATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does transformation mean? 

• TRANSFORMATION (noun)
  The noun TRANSFORMATION has 5 senses:

1. a qualitative change

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

3. a rule describing the conversion of one syntactic structure into another related syntactic structure

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

5. the act of changing in form or shape or appearance

  Familiarity information: TRANSFORMATION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRANSFORMATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A qualitative change

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

shift; transformation; transmutation

Hypernyms ("transformation" is a kind of...):

alteration; change; modification (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "transformation"):

sublimation ((chemistry) a change directly from the solid to the gaseous state without becoming liquid)

weakening (becoming weaker)

strengthening (becoming stronger)

degeneration; retrogression (passing from a more complex to a simpler biological form)

changeover; conversion; transition (an event that results in a transformation)

tin disease; tin pest; tin plague (the transformation of ordinary white tin into powdery grey tin at very cold temperatures)

sea change (a profound transformation)

pyrolysis (transformation of a substance produced by the action of heat)

population shift (a change in the relative numbers of the different groups of individuals making up a population)

advance; betterment; improvement (a change for the better; progress in development)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Hypernyms ("transformation" is a kind of...):

function; map; mapping; mathematical function; single-valued function ((mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function))

Domain category:

math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "transformation"):

reflection ((mathematics) a transformation in which the direction of one axis is reversed)

rotation ((mathematics) a transformation in which the coordinate axes are rotated by a fixed angle about the origin)

translation ((mathematics) a transformation in which the origin of the coordinate system is moved to another position but the direction of each axis remains the same)

affine transformation ((mathematics) a transformation that is a combination of single transformations such as translation or rotation or reflection on an axis)

Derivation:

transform (subject to a mathematical transformation)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A rule describing the conversion of one syntactic structure into another related syntactic structure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("transformation" is a kind of...):

grammatical rule; rule of grammar (a linguistic rule for the syntax of grammatical utterances)

Sense 4

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("transformation" is a kind of...):

change of integrity (the act of changing the unity or wholeness of something)

Domain category:

genetic science; genetics (the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms)

Derivation:

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

Sense 5

Meaning:

The act of changing in form or shape or appearance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

transformation; translation

Context example:

a photograph is a translation of a scene onto a two-dimensional surface

Hypernyms ("transformation" is a kind of...):

change of integrity (the act of changing the unity or wholeness of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "transformation"):

alteration; revision (the act of revising or altering (involving reconsideration and modification))

transfiguration (the act of transforming so as to exalt or glorify)

transmogrification (the act of changing into a different form or appearance (especially a fantastic or grotesque one))

metamorphosis (a complete change of physical form or substance especially as by magic or witchcraft)

permutation (complete change in character or condition)

Derivation:

transform (change or alter in form, appearance, or nature)

 Context examples 

There is an increased risk of malignant transformation.

(Beta-Catenin-Activated Hepatocellular Adenoma, NCI Thesaurus)

The hydrochloride salt form of boxidine, an agent that inhibits the transformation of 7-dehydrocholesterol to cholesterol and also inhibits sterol absorption.

(Boxidine Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

Rarely, the epithelial and/or myoepithelial cells may undergo malignant transformation.

(Breast Adenomyoepithelioma, NCI Thesaurus)

Occasionally, adenomyoepitheliomas may undergo malignant transformation.

(Benign Breast Adenomyoepithelioma, NCI Thesaurus)

Malignant transformation and proliferation of B lymphocytes.

(B-Lymphoma Development, NCI Thesaurus)

The formation of tumors and uncontrolled transformation of stem cells remain key barriers.

(Better biosensor technology created for stem cells, National Science Foundation)

An invasive adenocarcinoma characterized by focal or extensive transformation of the malignant glandular cells to cells with abundant, usually granular eosinophilic cytoplasm.

(Adenocarcinoma with Apocrine Metaplasia, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene may be involved in cell proliferation and transformation.

(CA9 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

Any gene mutation that promotes neoplastic cellular transformation.

(Cancer Gene Mutation, NCI Thesaurus)

NMYC amplification is associated with oncogenic transformation.

(Oncogene MYCN, NCI Thesaurus)