WordGarden.iotranspose
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /trænsˈpəʊz/not-comparableadjective
US
- /trænˈspoʊz/
Meanings
Verb
to move or rearrange something into a different order, position, or context
to rewrite or perform music in a different key or pitch range
to swap rows and columns or take the transpose of a matrix
Beyond the definition
Imagine you're building with LEGO bricks. To transpose the blocks means to switch their places, perhaps moving the red one from the top to the bottom and the bottom one to the top. It's all about changing the order in a clear way. In music, to transpose a song means to play or write it in a different key, moving all the notes up or down while keeping the same tune. You might also transpose the order of your vacation stops if a storm is hitting your first destination, choosing to visit the mountains first and the beach later.
The word comes from Latin roots that suggest putting something across or changing its position. Think of it as taking something from one place and putting it in another. It's usually used when the order of things matters, such as with numbers, letters, notes, or planned events.
To transpose means to change the order or position of things, or to move something into a different arrangement while keeping an important pattern. It's a flexible word used in many fields, but the basic idea stays the same: something is shifted from one place, order, or system to another.
In mathematics and computer science, transposing a matrix means switching its rows and columns. You can picture a table being flipped across its diagonal. A spreadsheet program can transpose data so that horizontal rows become vertical columns, which can make the information easier to read or use.
Musicians often transpose a piece of music. This means they rewrite or play it in a different key while keeping the same melody and relationships between the notes. A guitarist might transpose a song into a lower key to fit a singer's voice better.
Outside technical fields, transpose can mean switching things around or reversing their order. If someone "transposed the Monday and Friday meetings," they swapped those two appointments. You might even transpose part of your daily routine by exercising in the morning instead of the evening. The word usually suggests a deliberate change in arrangement, not just any change.
Sometimes, transposition also refers to an accidental switching of letters, sounds, or numbers. For example, a typist might write "from" as "form," or someone might reverse two digits in a number. In that sense, the word describes a mix-up caused by putting parts in the wrong order.
So, whether it's rearranging numbers, changing the key of a song, swapping appointments, or mixing up letters by mistake, transpose always involves moving parts into a different order or position.
Examples
- 1
Typing error
I transposed two digits when I typed my account number.
- 2
Mixed-up notes
In her notes, she had transposed the names of the two cities.
- 3
Music key
Could you transpose this song into a lower key so I can sing it comfortably?
- Patterntranspose a song into a different key
change the notes higher or lower
- 4
Adaptation setting
In the film version, the story is transposed from the 19th century to present-day London.
- Patterntranspose something from one time or place to another
move it to a different setting
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- preserve order
- keep in place
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- transpose letters
- transpose digits
- transpose two numbers
- transpose rows and columns
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- transposenounverb
Forms
- transposedpast tenseverbnoun
- transposing-ing formverbnoun
- transposespluralnounverb