transliterate

[ trans-lit-uh-reyt, tranz- ]
See synonyms for transliterate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),trans·lit·er·at·ed, trans·lit·er·at·ing.
  1. to change (letters, words, etc.) into corresponding characters of another alphabet or language: to transliterate the Greek Χ as ch.

Origin of transliterate

1
First recorded 1860–65; trans- + Latin lītter(a), litter(a) letter1 + -ate1

Other words from transliterate

  • trans·lit·er·a·tion [trans-lit-uh-rey-shuhn, tranz-], /trænsˌlɪt əˈreɪ ʃən, trænz-/, noun
  • trans·lit·er·a·tor, noun

Words that may be confused with transliterate

Words Nearby transliterate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use transliterate in a sentence

  • The 114 author is apparently unable to transliterate properly the Old English names.

    The Translations of Beowulf | Chauncey Brewster Tinker

British Dictionary definitions for transliterate

transliterate

/ (trænzˈlɪtəˌreɪt) /


verb
  1. (tr) to transcribe (a word, etc, in one alphabet) into corresponding letters of another alphabet: the Greek word λογοσ can be transliterated as ``logos''

Origin of transliterate

1
C19: trans- + -literate, from Latin līttera letter

Derived forms of transliterate

  • transliteration, noun
  • transliterator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012