Meaning & use
interpretation
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
A particular way of understanding or explaining the meaning of something.
Grammar: Countable for one view: a different interpretation; uncountable for the activity.
Patterns
- interpretation of something
- an interpretation of something as something
Historians offer different interpretations of the treaty.
The poem is open to several interpretations.
Her interpretation of the data surprised her colleagues.
nouncountablemusic
The way a performer presents a piece of music, a role or a work of art, showing a personal view of it.
Grammar: Usually followed by of: her interpretation of the sonata.
Patterns
- an interpretation of something
Her interpretation of the sonata was slow and dreamy.
The director's modern interpretation of the play split critics.
The chef presented a playful interpretation of a classic dish.
noununcountable
The work of translating speech from one language into another as people talk.
Grammar: Differs from translation, which usually refers to written text.
Patterns
- simultaneous interpretation
The conference offers simultaneous interpretation in four languages.
She studies interpretation at a language school.
Court interpretation requires great accuracy.
Word forms
| plural | interpretations |
|---|
Common combinations
- literal interpretation
- A literal interpretation of the rule would ban all bicycles.
- open to interpretation
- The ending of the film is open to interpretation.
- personal interpretation
- This is only my personal interpretation of events.
- misinterpretation
- The quote was a misinterpretation of her words.
- interpretation of data
- Careful interpretation of data requires context.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reading
- Reading is a less formal way to say one person's understanding of a text or event, while interpretation sounds more analytical.
- explanation
- Explanation tries to make something clear, while interpretation offers one possible meaning.
- version
- Version refers to one form of a work or account, while interpretation stresses a reading of its meaning.
- rendition
- Rendition is mostly for a performance or translation, whereas interpretation is wider.
Word family
- interpret verb
- to explain the meaning of something
- interpreter noun
- someone who translates speech or explains meaning
- interpretive adjective
- relating to explaining meaning
- misinterpret verb
- to understand wrongly
- reinterpretation noun
- a new way of understanding
Commonly confused: interpretation or translation?
interpretation vs translation
Translation usually means written text changed into another language, while interpretation of speech happens live.
Practice
The meaning of the painting is ______ interpretation, since critics read it in different ways.
Choose one answer.
Open to interpretation is a fixed phrase meaning can be understood in more than one way. The other options do not form a natural phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “interpretation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.