noun
interpreter
ihn-TUR-prih-tuh
noun
1
A person who translates spoken or signed language for others in real time.
"The court hired an interpreter so the witness could testify in her native language."
"The interpreter relayed the diplomat's remarks sentence by sentence."
2
Computing: a program that reads and carries out the instructions of another program directly, without compiling it first.
"The Python interpreter executes the script one line at a time."
How to Use Interpreter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or something) that converts meaning from one language or format into another as it happens.
Common mistake
An interpreter works with spoken or signed language in real time; a translator works with written text.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sign language interpreter
hire an interpreter
Word Forms
interpreters plural
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The court hired an _____ so the witness could testify in her native language.
Etymology
From Old French interpreteur, from Latin interpretari, "to explain," built on the same root as interpret.