interpret

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled terpret

US /ɪnˈtɝ.pɹɪt/ UK /ɪnˈtɜː.pɹɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #11543

Meanings

1

verb
to decide what something means; to understand it in a particular way.

It is hard to interpret what she really meant by that comment.
2

verb
to translate spoken words from one language into another as someone speaks.

She interpreted at the meeting between the Chinese and French managers.
3

verb
to perform a piece of art, music, or a role in your own way.

The actor interpreted the character of Hamlet with great skill.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to decide what something... see read

2 verb · to translate spoken words... render

3 verb · to perform a piece of art,... represent

More contruedecipher elucidate explain expound solve translate unfold unravel

Word family

Forms interpretedinterpretinginterprets

Derived forms interpretoryoverinterpretpreinterpret

Related forms interpretableinterpretamentinterpretation interpretative interpreter interpretiveinterprettedmisinterpret reinterpret

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.

interpreten Middle English enterpreter Old French interpretor Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# interpret

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈtɝ.pɹɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈtɜː.pɹɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 11543

## Meanings
1. to decide what something means; to understand it in a particular way.
2. to translate spoken words from one language into another as someone speaks.
3. to perform a piece of art, music, or a role in your own way.

## Examples
- It is hard to interpret what she really meant by that comment.
- She interpreted at the meeting between the Chinese and French managers.
- The actor interpreted the character of Hamlet with great skill.

## Synonyms
- contrue
- decipher
- elucidate
- explain
- expound
- render
- solve
- translate
- unfold
- unravel

## Derived Forms
- interpretory
- overinterpret
- preinterpret

## Related Forms
- interpretable
- interpretament
- interpretation
- interpretative
- interpreter
- interpretive
- interpretted
- misinterpret
- reinterpret

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: interpreten
- Root: enterpreter
- Root: interpretor

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Interpret comes 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. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named base and affix.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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