Meaning & use
transmuting
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“transmuting” is a form of “transmute”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitiveformal
Changing something completely into a different form, nature or type.
Grammar: Takes an object and often into or to: transmuting grief into art.
Patterns
- transmute something into something
- transmute something to something
The poet was transmuting her grief into a series of quiet poems.
Years of practice were transmuting raw talent into real skill.
The director is transmuting a simple story into a dazzling film.
verbtransitivespecialist
In old chemistry, trying to turn one metal into another, such as lead into gold.
Grammar: Takes an object; used for alchemy and fantasy: transmuting lead into gold.
Patterns
- transmute lead into gold
The alchemist spent decades transmuting lead into gold, or so he hoped.
In the story, a wizard is transmuting iron into silver.
Medieval scholars dreamed of transmuting base metals.
verbtransitive or intransitivephysicstechnical
In physics, changing one chemical element into another through nuclear reactions.
Grammar: Can take an object, or describe an element changing: the atoms were transmuting.
Patterns
- transmute into something
Radioactive decay is slowly transmuting uranium into lead.
Inside the reactor, neutrons were transmuting some atoms into new elements.
The isotope is transmuting as it decays.
Word forms
| third person singular | transmutes |
|---|---|
| past tense | transmuted |
| past participle | transmuted |
| -ing form | transmuting |
Common combinations
- transmute into
- The caterpillar seems to transmute into something new.
- transmute lead into gold
- No one has ever managed to transmute lead into gold by magic.
- transmute grief
- He tried to transmute his grief into creative work.
- transmute an element
- Scientists can transmute one element into another.
- transmute energy
- Plants transmute sunlight into food.
Synonyms and how they differ
- transform
- Transform is the everyday term for big change, while transmute sounds more formal and suggests a change of basic nature.
- convert
- Convert often suggests changing for a purpose or use, such as converting units, so it is more practical than transmute.
- transfigure
- Transfigure suggests a glorious or spiritual change in appearance, which is a narrower sense.
- metamorphose
- Metamorphose describes a gradual natural change of form, such as a tadpole becoming a frog.
Opposites
Word family
- transmute verb
- to change into another form or nature
- transmutation noun
- the act or result of changing into another form
- transmutable adjective
- able to be changed into another form
- mutate verb
- to undergo a sudden change, especially in genes
Commonly confused: transmuting or transmitting?
transmuting vs transmitting
Transmitting means sending a signal or passing something on, as in transmitting a message. Transmuting means changing into something different.
Practice
The artist spent years ______ her sorrow into beautiful paintings.
Choose one answer.
Transmuting means changing something into a different form, which fits turning sorrow into art. Transmitting means sending or passing on, so it is a tempting but wrong choice.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “transmuting”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.