interpret
Verb
- make sense of; assign a meaning to
- "How do you interpret his behavior?"
- give an interpretation or explanation to
- give an interpretation or rendition of
- create an image or likeness of
- restate (words) from one language into another language
- "Can you interpret the speech of the visiting dignitaries?"
- make sense of a language
- To decode the meaning of a topic and then act, whether to continue researching the topic, follow through, act in opposition, or further the understanding through sharing an interpretation.
- To explain or tell the meaning of; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms. applied especially to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc.
- To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation
- To convey what a user of one language is saying or signing, in real time or shortly after that person has finished communicating, to a user of a different language
- To analyse or execute (a program) by reading the instructions as they are encountered, rather than compiling in advance.
Examples
- an artist interprets a landscape
- He interpreted at the meeting between the Chinese and French associates.
- The actor interpreted the character of Hamlet with great skill.
- The way the musician interpreted a sonata was quite special.
- to interpret an Indian speech
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English interpreten, from Old French enterpreter, (French interpréter), from Latin interpretor (“to explain, expound, interpret”), past participle interpretatus, from interpres (“an agent, broker, explainer, interpreter, negotiator”), from inter (“between”) + -pres, probably the root of pretium (“price”); -pres is probably connected with Ancient Greek φράζειν (phrázein, “to point out, show, explain, declare, speak”), from which φραδή (phradḗ, “understanding”), φράσις (phrásis, “speech”); see phrase.
Synonyms
construe, read, rede, render, represent, see, translate, understand, contrue, decipher, elucidate, explain, expound, solve, take, unfold, unravel
Scrabble Score: 11
interpret: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordinterpret: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
interpret: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary