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interpret - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'interpret' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Interpret [ v. i.]
- To act as an interpreter.
2 . Interpret [ v. t.]
- 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.
- 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.

Meaning of 'interpret' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . interpret [ v]
Meaning (1):
- restate (words) from one language into another language
Example in sentence:
  • Can you interpret the speech of the visiting dignitaries?;
  • He translates for the U.N.;
  • I have to translate when my in-laws from Austria visit the U.S.;
  • She rendered the French poem into English
Meaning (2):
- make sense of a language
Example in sentence:
  • Can you read Greek?;
  • She understands French
Meaning (3):
- make sense of; assign a meaning to
Example in sentence:
  • How do you interpret his behavior?;
  • What message do you see in this letter?
Meaning (4):
- create an image or likeness of
Example in sentence:
  • The painter represented his wife as a young girl
Meaning (5):
- give an interpretation or rendition of
Example in sentence:
  • The pianist rendered the Beethoven sonata beautifully

Nearby Words:

intact intactable intactible intagli intagliated intaglio intaglius intail intake intaminated

See 'interpret' also in:

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