Interpretation
/ɪnˌtɜːrprɪˈteɪʃən/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe action of explaining the meaning of something, or the way something is explained or understood.
/ɪnˌtɜːrprɪˈteɪʃən/
The act of explaining the meaning of something.
The professor offered a new interpretation of the poem.
💡 Simply: Think of it like reading a book. When you're reading, you have to interpret what the words mean. It's how you figure out the story! It's the same with art or music – figuring out what the artist or composer was trying to say.
👶 For kids: It's like figuring out what something means! Like when you look at a picture and tell a story about it.
More Examples
Her interpretation of the data was different from mine.
We need to find a common interpretation of the contract's terms.
How It's Used
"The judge's interpretation of the law was crucial to the case."
"Each artist offered their own interpretation of the subject."
"The conductor's interpretation of the symphony brought out new emotions."
The way in which a work of art, such as a piece of music, a play, or a dance, is performed or presented.
/ɪnˌtɜːrprɪˈteɪʃən/
A particular version or way of performing a work of art.
The orchestra's interpretation of the symphony was breathtaking.
💡 Simply: Imagine different singers performing the same song. Each one has a different way of singing it – that’s their interpretation! It's about how someone shows their own style when doing something creative.
👶 For kids: It's like when you draw a picture of a dog. Your drawing is your interpretation of what a dog looks like! Someone else might draw a different dog, and that would be their interpretation.
More Examples
The dancer's interpretation of the theme was innovative.
The director's interpretation of the play modernized the story.
How It's Used
"The pianist gave a sensitive interpretation of the nocturne."
"Her interpretation of the role was widely praised."
Idioms & expressions
Lost in interpretation
When something's meaning is unclear and confused after many attempts to understand or translate it.
"The instructions were so convoluted that the project was lost in interpretation."
Open to interpretation
Something that has a meaning that isn't fixed and can be understood in different ways.
"The ambiguous clause was open to interpretation."
From Latin *interpretatio* (“explanation, construction, translation”), from *interpretari* (“to explain, interpret”).
The word interpretation has been used since the 14th century and has evolved to encompass a wide range of applications.
Memory tip
Imagine an interpreter translating languages - interpretation is the act of making something understandable.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: interpretari