transfer
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /trænsˈfɜː/verb
- /trɑːnsˈfɜː/verb
- /ˈtræns.fɜː/noun
- /ˈtrɑːns.fɜː/noun
US
- /ˈtrænsfər/
- /trænsˈfɜr/
Description
- move
- shift
- hand over
To transfer something means to move it from one place, person, or system to another. You might transfer money from your checking account to your savings account, transfer a file from your phone to your computer, or transfer ownership of a car to someone else. People can transfer too: a student may transfer to another university, or a worker may transfer to a different office. The idea is simple: something changes hands or moves to a new place.
The word "transfer" describes the act of moving something from one place, person, or system to another. It is used in many everyday situations. You can transfer money between bank accounts, transfer a call to another person, transfer a patient to another hospital, or transfer files from one device to another. In legal or business settings, it can mean giving control or ownership to someone else, such as when you transfer property or rights.
The word is also used for people changing from one place or role to another. A student may transfer to a new school, an employee may transfer to a different branch, and a player may be transferred to another team. In these cases, the person stays the same, but their place, group, or position changes.
Sometimes the idea is less physical. Skills or knowledge can be transferred from one situation to another, such as when someone uses what they learned in class at work. In psychology, the word can also have a special meaning, but in normal English it usually means that something is moved, passed along, or handed over.
So when you see transfer, think about movement with a destination. Something starts in one place and ends up somewhere else, whether that is money, data, property, responsibility, or a person.
Examples
- 1
Digital files
You can transfer the photos from your phone to your laptop.
- 2
Banking
I asked the bank to transfer the money to my savings account.
- 3
School change
She transferred to a different school after her family moved.
Pattern
transfer to + school/team/office
move to another place or group
- 4
Work schedule
He was transferred to the night shift last month.
- 5
Customer service
Let me transfer your call to our billing department.
- 6
Practical skills
What you learn in training does not always transfer to real situations.
Pattern
transfer to + situation
still be useful in that different situation
- 7
Medical care
The hospital arranged an emergency transfer to a larger medical center.
- 8
Legal ownership
The transfer of ownership won't be official until Friday.
- 9
Travel connection
We only had four minutes to make our transfer in Chicago.
Phrase
make a transfer
change from one bus, train, or plane to another
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- transfernounverb
Forms
- transferredpast tenseverbnoun
- transferspluralnounverb
- transferring-ing formverbnoun