transform

transform
    v 1: subject to a mathematical transformation
    2: change or alter in form, appearance, or nature; "This
       experience transformed her completely"; "She transformed the
       clay into a beautiful sculpture"; "transubstantiate one
       element into another" [syn: {transform}, {transmute},
       {transubstantiate}]
    3: change in outward structure or looks; "He transformed into a
       monster"; "The salesman metamorphosed into an ugly beetle"
       [syn: {transform}, {transmute}, {metamorphose}]
    4: change from one form or medium into another; "Braque
       translated collage into oil" [syn: {translate}, {transform}]
    5: convert (one form of energy) to another; "transform energy to
       light"
    6: change (a bacterial cell) into a genetically distinct cell by
       the introduction of DNA from another cell of the same or
       closely related species
    7: increase or decrease (an alternating current or voltage)
    

Transform \Trans*form"\, v. i.
   To be changed in form; to be metamorphosed. [R.]
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         His hair transforms to down.             --Addison.
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Transform \Trans*form"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Transformed}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Transforming}.] [L. transformare,
   transformatum; trans across, over + formare to from: cf. F.
   transformer. See {Form}, v. t.]
   1. To change the form of; to change in shape or appearance;
      to metamorphose; as, a caterpillar is ultimately
      transformed into a butterfly.
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            Love may transform me to an oyster.   --Shak.
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   2. To change into another substance; to transmute; as, the
      alchemists sought to transform lead into gold.
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   3. To change in nature, disposition, heart, character, or the
      like; to convert.
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            Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
                                                  --Rom. xii. 2.
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   4. (Math.) To change, as an algebraic expression or
      geometrical figure, into another from without altering its
      value.
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72 Moby Thesaurus words for "transform":
      acculturate, advance, alter, ameliorate, amend, assimilate to,
      become, better, boost, bring forward, bring to, change,
      change into, change over, civilize, commute, convert, denature,
      do over, edify, educate, elevate, emend, enhance, enlighten,
      enrich, fatten, favor, forward, foster, go straight, improve,
      improve upon, lard, lift, make, make an improvement, make over,
      meliorate, mend, metabolize, metamorphose, modify, mutate,
      naturalize, nurture, permute, promote, raise, reconvert, reduce to,
      refine upon, reform, render, resolve into, reverse, shift,
      socialize, straighten out, switch, switch over, transfer,
      transfigure, translate, transmogrify, transmute, transpose,
      transubstantiate, turn back, turn into, upgrade, uplift