interpret

Interpret is defined as to translate or explain what something means.

(verb)

An example of interpret is a person using sign language to translate what someone is saying to a deaf person.

See interpret in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to explain the meaning of; make understandable: to interpret a poem
to translate (esp. oral remarks)
to have or show one's own understanding of the meaning of; construe: to interpret a silence as contempt
to bring out the meaning of; esp., to give one's own conception of (a work of art), as in performance or criticism
to translate (a program in a high-level language) into machine language and execute it, statement by statement: said of an interpreter program

Origin: ME interpreten < MFr intepréter < L interpretari < interpres, agent between two parties, broker, interpreter

intransitive verb

to act as an interpreter; explain or translate

Related Forms:

See interpret in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb in·ter·pret·ed, in·ter·pret·ing, in·ter·prets

verb, transitive

To explain the meaning of: interpreted the ambassador's remarks. See Synonyms at explain.
To conceive the significance of; construe: interpreted his smile to be an agreement; interpreted the open door as an invitation.
To present or conceptualize the meaning of by means of art or criticism.
To translate orally.

verb, intransitive