interpreter
UK: ɪnˈtɜː.prɪ.tər | US: ɪnˈtɜːr.prə.t̬ɚ
n. a person who translates spoken language orally
n. a program that executes code by translating it line-by-line
n. someone who explains or interprets the meaning of something
The word "interpreter" originates from Latin interpretari ("to explain, translate"), derived from interpres ("mediator, agent between parties"). The morpheme inter- ("between") reflects the role of bridging communication gaps, while -pret- (linked to pretium, "price/value") suggests conveying meaning or value. The suffix -er denotes the agent performing the action. Over time, the term expanded from mediating disputes to linguistic translation and computational execution.
The UN interpreter translated the speech from French to English in real time.
Python is an interpreted language, relying on an interpreter to execute code.
She acted as an interpreter of dreams, analyzing their symbolic meanings.
The museum guide served as an interpreter of ancient artifacts for visitors.
Without a skilled interpreter, the diplomatic meeting would have faltered.