interpretation

B2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ɪnˌtɝpɹəˈteɪʃən/ UK /ɪnˌtɜːpɹəˈteɪʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #10702

Meanings

1

noun
the meaning or explanation you give to something that is not clear.

The new law is open to many different interpretations.
2

noun
a particular way of performing a piece of music, a play, or a role.

Her interpretation of the song brought the audience to tears.
3

noun
the work of translating spoken language from one language into another.

She studied interpretation so she could work at international conferences.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the meaning or explanation... reading rendition

2 noun · a particular way of... rendition

3 noun · the work of translating... interpreting

Word family

Forms interpretations

Related forms interpret interpretative interpreter interpretive valuation

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

literal interpretation
an understanding based on the direct meaning of the words

Adjective + noun

Proverbs (1)

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There are no facts, just interpretations

Etymology

From Middle English interpretacioun, from the Anglo-Norman form of Old French interpretacion, from Latin interpretātiō, noun of action from interpretor (“to explain, expound, interpret, understand, conclude, infer, comprehend”). Morphologically interpret + -ation.

interpretacioun Middle English interpretacion Old French interpretātiō Latin

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Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# interpretation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˌtɝpɹəˈteɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˌtɜːpɹəˈteɪʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 10702

## Meanings
1. the meaning or explanation you give to something that is not clear.
2. a particular way of performing a piece of music, a play, or a role.
3. the work of translating spoken language from one language into another.

## Examples
- The new law is open to many different interpretations.
- Her interpretation of the song brought the audience to tears.
- She studied interpretation so she could work at international conferences.

## Related Forms
- interpret
- interpretative
- interpreter
- interpretive
- valuation

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: interpretacioun
- Root: interpretacion
- Root: interpretātiō

## Etymology
From Middle English interpretacioun, from the Anglo-Norman form of Old French interpretacion, from Latin interpretātiō, noun of action from interpretor (“to explain, expound, interpret, understand, conclude, infer, comprehend”). Morphologically interpret + -ation.

## AI Etymology
Interpretation comes from Middle English interpretacioun, from the Anglo-Norman form of Old French interpretacion, from Latin interpretātiō, noun of action from interpretor (“to explain, expound, interpret, understand, conclude, infer, comprehend”). Morphologically interpret + -ation. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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