transmutation - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

trans·mu·ta·tion

Audio Help [trans-myoo-tey-shuh

n, tranz-] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	the act or process of transmuting.

2.	the fact or state of being transmuted.

3.	change into another nature, substance, form, or condition.

4.	Biology. the transformation of one species into another. Compare transformism.

5.	Physics. any process in which a nuclide is transformed into a different nuclide, usually one of a different element.

6.	Alchemy. the supposed conversion of base metals into metals of greater value, esp. into gold or silver.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME transmutacio(u)n (< OF transmutation) < L trānsmūtātiōn- (s. of trānsmūtātiō) a changing, shifting, equiv. to trānsmūtāt(us) (ptp. of trānsmūtāre to change) + -iōn- -ion. See transmute, -ation

]

—Related forms

trans·mu·ta·tion·al, trans·mut·a·tive

Audio Help [trans-myoo-tuh-tiv, tranz-] Pronunciation Key, adjective

trans·mu·ta·tion·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
transmutation

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

trans·mu·ta·tion Audio Help (trāns'myōō-tā'shən, trānz'-) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. The act or an instance of transmuting; transformation.
2. The state of being transmuted.
Physics Transformation of one element into another by one or a series of nuclear reactions.
The supposed conversion of base metals into gold or silver in alchemy.

trans'mu·ta'tion·al, trans·mut'a·tive (-myōō'tə-tĭv) adj.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
transmutation

c.1380, from O.Fr. transmutation (12c.), from L.L. transmutationem (nom. transmutatio) "a change, shift," noun of action from L. transmutare "change from one condition to another," from trans- "thoroughly" + mutare "to change" (see mutable). A word from alchemy.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

transmutation
noun
1.	an act that changes the form or character or substance of something
2.	a qualitative change [syn: transformation]
3.	(physics) the change of one chemical element into another (as by nuclear decay or radioactive bombardment); "the transmutation of base metals into gold proved to be impossible"

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

transmutation Audio Help (trāns'my

-tā'shən) Pronunciation Key
The changing of one chemical element into another. Transmutations occur naturally through radioactive decay, or artificially by bombarding the nucleus of a substance with subatomic particles.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

transmutation trans·mu·ta·tion (trāns'my&oomacr;-tā'shən, trānz'-)
n.

A change; transformation.
In physics, the transformation of one element into another by one or a series of nuclear reactions.

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: trans·mu·ta·tion
Pronunciation: "tran(t)s-myu-'tA-sh&n, "tranz-
Function: noun
: an act or instance of changing: as a : the evolutionary change of one species into another b : the conversion of one element or nuclide into another either naturally or artificially

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: trans·mu·ta·tion
Pronunciation: "tranz-myü-'tA-sh&n, "trans-
Function: noun
1 : a doctrine in property law whichallows the conversion of a separate property interest into marital or community property by agreement between spouses or by contribution of marital or community assets to the separate property (as formaintenance or improvements); also : a doctrine in property law which allows the conversion of a marital or community property interest into separate property
2 : an actor instance of converting a property interest in accordance with the doctrine of transmutation <absent a transmutation by deed>

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Transmutation

Trans`mu*ta"tion\, n. [F. transmutation, L. transmutatio. See Transmute.]

1. The act of transmuting, or the state of being transmuted; as, the transmutation of metals.

2. (Geom.) The change or reduction of one figure or body into another of the same area or solidity, but of a different form, as of a triangle into a square. [R.]

3. (Biol.) The change of one species into another, which is assumed to take place in any development theory of life; transformism. --Bacon.

Transmutation of metals (Alchem.), the conversion of base metals into gold or silver, a process often attempted by the alchemists. See Alchemy, and Philosopher's stone, under Philosopher.

On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

transmutation

transmutation: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary

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