verb
transpose
trans-POHZ
Transpose (verb) means to swap the order or position of two or more things. Example: “The typo happened because she transposed two letters while typing quickly.”
verb
1
To swap the order or position of two or more things.
"The typo happened because she transposed two letters while typing quickly."
2
In music, to rewrite or perform a piece in a different key.
"The singer asked the band to transpose the song down a key to suit her range."
3
In mathematics, to move a term from one side of an equation to the other, or to swap rows and columns of a matrix.
"Transposing the equation isolates x on one side."
How to use transpose
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo switch the position or order of things, whether letters, musical notes, or mathematical terms.
Common pairings
transpose letters
transpose a song
transpose a matrix
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Word forms
- Plural
- transposes
- Third person singular
- transposes
- Past tense
- transposed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The typo happened because she _____ two letters while typing quickly.
Etymology
From Old French transposer, from Latin transpositus, "put across" — trans- ("across") plus ponere ("to put").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for transpose
See all rhymes for transpose →Frequently asked questions
What does “transpose” mean?
The word “transpose” means to swap the order or position of two or more things. In plain terms, to switch the position or order of things, whether letters, musical notes, or mathematical terms.
How do you pronounce “transpose”?
“Transpose” is pronounced trans-POHZ (/tɹænsˈpoʊz/ in IPA).
How do you use “transpose” in a sentence?
Here is “transpose” used in a sentence: “The typo happened because she transposed two letters while typing quickly.”
What is another word for “transpose”?
Words with a similar meaning to “transpose” include interchange, swap, swap over, swap round and switch.
What part of speech is “transpose”?
“Transpose” is a verb.
Where does the word “transpose” come from?
The word “transpose” comes from Latin. From Old French transposer, from Latin transpositus, "put across" — trans- ("across") plus ponere ("to put").
How many meanings does “transpose” have?
“Transpose” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to swap the order or position of two or more things.
