Meaning & use
transpose
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To change the order or position of two or more things, especially by swapping them.
Grammar: Takes an object: transpose the two words. Often used with 'with' or 'and': transpose A with B.
Patterns
- transpose something
- transpose something with something
- transpose something and something
If you transpose the letters 'e' and 'i', the word becomes 'recieve', which is wrong.
The editor transposed the two paragraphs to improve the flow of the article.
In the spreadsheet, I accidentally transposed the rows and columns.
verbtransitive or intransitivemusic
To write or perform a piece of music in a different key from the original.
Grammar: Can be used with an object (transpose the song) or without (the song transposes easily). Often followed by 'from' and 'to': transpose from C to D.
Patterns
- transpose something
- transpose something from something to something
- transpose something into something
The pianist transposed the sonata from G major to A major to suit the singer's range.
Many jazz musicians can transpose on sight.
This piece is too low for me; I'll transpose it up a third.
verbtransitivemathematics
To move a term from one side of an equation to the other and change its sign.
Grammar: Used in mathematics. Takes an object: transpose the term.
Patterns
- transpose something
- transpose something to the other side
To solve for x, transpose the constant term to the right side of the equation.
After transposing the terms, the equation becomes much simpler.
Word forms
| third person singular | transposes |
|---|---|
| past tense | transposed |
| past participle | transposed |
| -ing form | transposing |
Common combinations
- transpose letters
- A common typing error is to transpose letters in a word.
- transpose a piece
- The composer transposed the piece for a smaller ensemble.
- transpose the terms
- You must transpose the terms before you can factor the expression.
- transpose from ... to ...
- She transposed the melody from D minor to E minor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- swap
- Swap is more informal and often implies an exchange between two people or things; transpose is more formal and often used for abstract things like words or musical notes.
- reverse
- Reverse means to change something to its opposite or to turn it the other way around; transpose specifically means to change the order of items.
- interchange
- Interchange is similar but often used for swapping things of the same type, like ideas or parts; transpose is more technical.
Word family
- transposition noun
- The act of transposing or the state of being transposed.
- transposable adjective
- Capable of being transposed.
Commonly confused: transpose or transpire?
transpose vs transpire
Transpire means to happen or to become known; it is not related to changing order. Don't confuse it with transpose.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'transpose' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Transpose means to change the order of things, so swapping paragraphs is correct. 'Transpose' does not mean to reschedule (that's 'postpone'), to move water (that's 'transport'), or to convert (that's 'transform').
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “transpose”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.