interpretation Hear it!

interpretation Definition

in·ter·pre·ta·tion (in tʉr′prə tā′s̸hən)

noun

  1. the act or result of interpreting; explanation, meaning, translation, exposition, etc.
  2. the expression of a person's conception of a work of art, subject, etc. through acting, playing, writing, criticizing, etc. the pianist's interpretation of the sonata

Etymology: ME interpretacioun < OFr entrepretation < L interpretatio

interpretation Related Forms
in·ter′·pre·ta′·tional adjective
interpretation Synonyms

interpretation

n.

  1. An explanation

    account, rendition, exposition, paraphrase, statement, diagnosis, description, representation, definition, elucidation, presentation, argument, paraphrase, translation, gloss, answer, solution; see also explanation 1, translation.

  2. A conception

    version, reading, construction, understanding, deduction, point of view, commentary, annotation, idea, analysis, recreation, criticism, dissertation, essay, discussion, appreciation, theme, critique, examination, study, take*, spin*; see also exposition 2, review 2.

interpretation Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • scripture: Just as prophesy was given by God, so the interpretation of prophetic scriptures is not a matter for private judgment.
  • datum: The project will involve the analysis and interpretation of the data, set in a broader academic context.
  • Koran: The opposition stems from later interpretations of the Koran.
  • passage: We must keep in mind that the interpretation of a specific passage must not contradict the total teaching of Scripture on a point.
  • law: Note: Interpretation of the Law is a matter for the courts.
  • result: Therefore, the interpretation of results needs to be taken with care.

Converse of object

  • differ: Or even where Academics agree on the facts, they may believe the facts support radically differing interpretations.
  • vary: In that case, from which of the varying interpretations of the Koran would my going astray be a result?

Adjective modifier

  • literal: So that takes care of the literal interpretation of what was going on.
  • biblical: Not to mention a rather sound grasp of some of the more academic aspects of biblical interpretation.
  • authoritative: The information given is not an authoritative interpretation of the law.
  • subjective: Medical images are often complex, of poor visual quality and open to subjective interpretation.
  • correct: The Court of Appeal held that the correct interpretation of Art.
  • historical: It's all down to historical interpretation, of course.

Modifies a noun

  • panel: A particular feature of this project will be a Braille facility for the interpretation panels.

Noun used with modifier

  • utterance: It is designed to be supplemented by and interact with theories of utterance interpretation.
  • dream: Most dream interpretations are based on folklore or psychology.
  • propensity: Mathematicians undoubtedly use probability in a way that fits well with the propensity interpretation, but they leave it undefined.
  • heritage: There are live briefs in visitor studies, in team projects and in heritage interpretation modules.
  • data: Advice on experiment selection and data interpretation is also available.
interpretation Quotes

Scientific discovery consists in the interpretation for our own convenience of a system of existence which has been made with no eye to our convenience at all.

—Wiener, Norbert

Interpretation is the revenge of the intellect upon art.

—Sontag, Susan

Congratulations and bouquets keep pouring in, as if the role of sexuality had been suddenly recognised by His Majesty, the interpretation of dreams confirmed by the Council of Ministers, and the necessity of the psychoanalytic therapy of hysteria carried by a two- thirds majority in Parliament.

—Freud, Sigmund

Polling is merely an instrument for gauging public opinion.When a president or any other leader pays attention to poll results, he is, in effect, paying attention to the views of the people. Any other interpretation is nonsense.

—Gallup, George Horace

Cricket is a game full of forlorn hopes and sudden dramatic changes of fortune and its rules are so ill- defined that their interpretation is partly an ethical business.

—Orwell, George pseudonym of  Eric Arthur Blair

Poetry is what is lost in translation. It is also what is lost in interpretation.

—Frost, Robert Lee