transmute
UK: /trænzˈmjuːt/ | US: /trænzˈmjuːt/
vt. to change or alter in form, appearance, or nature
vt. (alchemy) to transform base metals into gold
vi. to undergo transformation
The word "transmute" originates from Latin transmutare, combining trans- (meaning "across" or "beyond") and mutare (meaning "to change"). It entered Middle English via Old French transmuter. Historically, it was central to alchemy, describing the conversion of base metals into gold. Over time, its meaning broadened to encompass any profound transformation, retaining the core idea of crossing from one state to another.
The alchemist sought to transmute lead into gold.
Technology has transmuted the way we communicate.
Over centuries, folklore transmuted into written literature.
The artist’s vision transmuted ordinary objects into masterpieces.
Pressure and heat can transmute carbon into diamonds.