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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 notes

In 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

Word forms

transposed past tense, transposes plural, transposes plural, transposes singular

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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").

Origin: Latin

interchange swap swap over swap round switch

Related words

Rhymes for transpose

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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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial