interpreting

UK: /ɪnˈtɜː^rprɪtɪŋ/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•ter•pret /ɪnˈtɜrprɪt/   v. 

1. to give or provide the meaning of;
   explain:
   [~ + object] to interpret a fable.
2. to understand (something said, ordered, or done) in a particular way:
   [~ + object (+ as)] We chose to interpret the reply as favorable.
3. to translate what is said in a foreign language: [no object]
   He interprets at the UN.
   [~ + object]
   He interpreted the speech for us.
4. to bring out the meaning of (a dramatic work, a piece of music, etc.), as by performance or explanation:
   [~ + object] The student interpreted the symbolism in Yeats' poem.

in•ter•pret•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•ter•pret  (in tûr′prit), v.t. 

1. to give or provide the meaning of;
   explain;
   explicate;
   elucidate:
   to interpret the hidden meaning of a parable.
2. to construe or understand in a particular way:
   to interpret a reply as favorable.
3. to bring out the meaning of (a dramatic work, music, etc.) by performance or execution.
4. to perform or render (a song, role in a play, etc.) according to one's own understanding or sensitivity:
   The actor interpreted Lear as a weak, pitiful old man.
5. to translate orally.
6. Computing
   • to transform (a program written in a high-level language) with an interpreter into a sequence of machine actions, one statement at a time, executing each statement immediately before going on to transform the next one.
   • to read (the patterns of holes in punched cards) with an interpreter, printing the interpreted data on the same cards so that they can be read more conveniently by people. Cf. interpreter (def. 3).

v.i. 

7. to translate what is said in a foreign language.
8. to explain something;
   give an explanation.

• Latin interpretārī, derivative of interpret- (stem of interpres) explainer
• Middle English interpreten 1350–1400

in•ter′pret•a•ble, adj. 
in•ter′pret•a•bil′i•ty, in•ter′pret•a•ble•ness, n. 
in•ter′pret•a•bly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. See explain. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

interpret / ɪnˈtɜːprɪt/ verb

1. (transitive) to clarify or explain the meaning of; elucidate
2. (transitive) to construe the significance or intention of
3. (transitive) to convey or represent the spirit or meaning of (a poem, song, etc) in performance
4. (intransitive) to act as an interpreter; translate orally

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin interpretārī, from interpres negotiator, one who explains, from inter- + -pres, probably related to pretium price

inˈterpretable adjective

inˌterpretaˈbility, inˈterpretableness noun

inˈterpretably adverb