See Also: transformation(dictionary)
transformation(encyclopedia)
transformation(dictionary)
Transformation(health)
sol gel transformation(medicine)
Transformation(medicine)
blast transformation(medicine)
transformation, genetic(medicine)
transformation constant(medicine)
transformation efficiency(medicine)

transformation (iou)



transformation noun. LME.
[Old & mod. French, or late Latin transformatio(n-), from Latin transformat- pa. ppl stem of transformare: see TRANSFORM verb, -ATION.]
I.
The action of changing in form, shape, or appearance; metamorphosis. LME.
G. Daly The transformation of Galatea from statue to living being.
A complete change in character, nature, etc. L16.
Independent The political transformation of Eastern Europe has..already happened. The economic transformation..has hardly begun.
Theatrical. More fully transformation scene. A scene in a pantomime in which (part of) the scenery is dramatically altered in the sight of the audience; esp. (now Hist.) one in which the principal performers became the players of an ensuing harlequinade. M19.
A woman's wig. Now rare. E20.
II. techn.
Math. A change of any mathematical entity in accordance with some definite rule or set of rules; the rules themselves; spec. (a) change of form without alteration of significance or value; substitution of one geometrical figure for another of equal magnitude but different form, or of one algebraic expression or equation for another of the same value; (b) the introduction of a new set of coordinates; (c) = MAPPING 2. Formerly also, truncation of the vertices of a solid figure. L16.
LAPLACE transformation. LORENTZ transformation.
Natural change of form in a living organism; = METAMORPHOSIS 3a. M17.
D. Attenborough They grow by a series of moults but never..undergo transformation.
Chemistry. Change of chemical structure, esp. by rearrangement of atoms in a molecule to form a compound of a different type; a reaction in which this occurs. M19.
Electricity. Change of a current into one of different potential, or different type, or both, as by a transformer. L19.
Physics. Change of one element into another by nuclear bombardment or radioactive decay; transmutation. E20.
Biology. The genetic alteration of a cell (orig. a bacterium) by the introduction or absorption of extraneous DNA, esp. by means of a plasmid. E20.
Cytology & Medicine. The heritable alteration of a eukaryotic cell so that it comes to possess some or all of the characteristics of a cancer cell. M20.
Linguistics. The conversion of one syntactic structure into another by the application of specific rules; a rule converting deep structure to surface structure. M20.
Comb.: transformation card a playing-card on which the suit signs are incorporated into a decorative design or picture; transformation scene: see sense 3 above.
transformationist noun (a) = TRANSFORMIST; (b) = TRANSFORMATIONALIST noun: L19.