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Definition of "transmutation" [trans•mu•ta•tion]

  • The act or an instance of transmuting; transformation. (noun)
  • The state of being transmuted. (noun)
  • Physics Transformation of one element into another by one or a series of nuclear reactions. (noun)
  • The supposed conversion of base metals into gold or silver in alchemy. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "transmutation" in a sentence
  • "The analysis made by Cockcroft and Walton of the energy relations in a transmutation is of particular interest, because a verification was provided by this analysis for Einstein's law concerning the equivalence of mass and energy."
  • "But they were also fascinated with the idea of transmutation and believed in a sort of infinite mutability of matter."
  • "In the Middle Ages, and, indeed, down to the time of that great philosopher, Sir Isaac Newton, who was himself bitten with the craze, it was widely believed that, by what was known as transmutation, the baser metals might be changed to gold; and much time and trouble were expended in attempts to make gold -- needless to say without the desired result."