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Noun: transformation  ,tranz-fu(r)'mey-shun or ,tran(t)s-for'mey-shun
  1. The act of changing in form, shape or appearance
    "a photograph is a transformation of a scene onto a two-dimensional surface";
    - translation
     
  2. A qualitative change
    "The caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly was a marvel of nature";
    - transmutation, shift
     
  3. (genetics) modification of a cell or bacterium by the uptake and incorporation of exogenous DNA
    "The genetic transformation of the bacteria resulted in antibiotic resistance"
     
  4. A rule describing the conversion of one syntactic structure into another related syntactic structure
    "The linguist explained the transformation from active to passive voice"
     
  5. (mathematics) a function that changes the position or direction of the axes of a coordinate system
    "The students learned about various geometric transformations in their maths class"

Derived forms: transformations

Type of: alteration, change, change of integrity, function, grammatical rule, map, mapping, mathematical function, modification, rule of grammar, single-valued function

Encyclopedia: Transformation, genetic