[syn: understand, read, interpret, translate]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Interpret \In*ter"pret\, v. i.
To act as an interpreter. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Interpret \In*ter"pret\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Interpreted; p.
pr. & vb. n. Interpreting.] [F. interpr[^e]ter, L.
interpretari, p. p. interpretatus, fr. interpres interpeter,
agent, negotiator; inter between + (prob.) the root of
pretium price. See Price.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To explain or tell the meaning of; to expound; to
translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or
terms; to decipher; to define; -- applied esp. to
language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries,
etc.; as, to interpret the Hebrew language to an
Englishman; to interpret an Indian speech.
[1913 Webster]
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
--Matt. i. 23.
[1913 Webster]
And Pharaoh told them his dreams; but there was none
that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. --Gen. xli.
8.
[1913 Webster]
2. To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by
illustrative representation; as, an actor interprets the
character of Hamlet; a musician interprets a sonata; an
artist interprets a landscape.
Syn: To translate; explain; solve; render; expound;
elucidate; decipher; unfold; unravel.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
interpret
v 1: make sense of; assign a meaning to; "What message do you
see in this letter?"; "How do you interpret his behavior?"
[syn: interpret, construe, see]
2: give an interpretation or explanation to [syn: rede,
interpret]
3: give an interpretation or rendition of; "The pianist rendered
the Beethoven sonata beautifully" [syn: interpret,
render]
4: create an image or likeness of; "The painter represented his
wife as a young girl" [syn: represent, interpret]
5: restate (words) from one language into another language; "I
have to translate when my in-laws from Austria visit the
U.S."; "Can you interpret the speech of the visiting
dignitaries?"; "She rendered the French poem into English";
"He translates for the U.N." [syn: translate, interpret,
render]
6: make sense of a language; "She understands French"; "Can you
read Greek?" [syn: understand, read, interpret,
translate]