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transmutation

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
trans·mu·ta·tion  (trnsmy-tshn, trnz-)
n.
1.
a. The act or an instance of transmuting; transformation.
b. The state of being transmuted.
2. Physics Transformation of one element into another by one or a series of nuclear reactions.
3. The supposed conversion of base metals into gold or silver in alchemy.

transmu·tation·al, trans·muta·tive (-myt-tv) adj.

transmutation [ˌtrænzmjuːˈteɪʃən]
n
1. the act or an instance of transmuting
2. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) the change of one chemical element into another by a nuclear reaction
3. (Chemistry / Alchemy) the attempted conversion, by alchemists, of base metals into gold or silver
transmutational , transmutative adj
transmutationist  n & adj

transmutation  (trnsmy-tshn)
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.

transmutation
the process or act of change, especially from one thing to another, as the change from base metal to gold, pursued by the alchemists. — transmutationist, n.transmutative, adj.
See also: Alchemy
the process or act of change, especially from one thing to another, as the change from base metal to gold, pursued by the alchemists. — transmutationist, n. — transmutative, adj.
See also: Change
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.transmutationtransmutation - an act that changes the form or character or substance of something
conversion - the act of changing from one use or function or purpose to another
2.transmutationtransmutation - a qualitative change                
alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago"
betterment, improvement, advance - a change for the better; progress in development
population shift - a change in the relative numbers of the different groups of individuals making up a population
pyrolysis - transformation of a substance produced by the action of heat
sea change - a profound transformation
sublimation - (chemistry) a change directly from the solid to the gaseous state without becoming liquid
tin disease, tin pest, tin plague - the transformation of ordinary white tin into powdery grey tin at very cold temperatures
changeover, conversion, transition - an event that results in a transformation
retrogression, degeneration - passing from a more complex to a simpler biological form
strengthening - becoming stronger
weakening - becoming weaker
3.transmutation - (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"
natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics"
alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago"
Translations
transmutation [ˌtrænzmjuːˈteɪʃən] Ntransmutación f
transmutation
nVerwandlung f, → Umwandlung f; (Biol) → Umbildung f, → Transmutation f


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Unbelieving Philosophers who were remodelling the world with words, and making card-towers of Babel to scale the skies with, talked with Unbelieving Chemists who had an eye on the transmutation of metals, at this wonderful gathering accumulated by Monseigneur.
Those who maintain the affirmative ought at least to mark the boundary between authorized and usurped innovations; between that degree of change which lies within the compass of ALTERATIONS AND FURTHER PROVISIONS, and that which amounts to a TRANSMUTATION of the government.
But the complexion even of external things seemed to suffer transmutation as her announcement progressed.
 
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