interpret
Make sense of
To interpret is to explain or make sense of something not immediately clear.
You interpret a dream, a poem, a legal statute, or someone's silence.
An interpreter translates spoken language in real time: She interpreted for the ambassador.
Musicians and actors interpret works by bringing their own understanding to a performance: His interpretation of Hamlet was brooding and restless.
Data requires interpretation—the numbers don't speak for themselves.
Become conscious of
- understandGrasp the meaning
- readComprehend written language
- viewWhat's seen from somewhere
- seePerceive with eyes
take · construe · apprehend · grasp · comprehend · discern · conceive · regard
Make something understood
- clarifyMake something understandable
- elucidateTo make understood
- explicateClarify through detailed analysis
- illuminateSupply with radiance
demystify · decode · decipher · gloss · annotate · comment · contextualize · paraphrase
Study by breaking down
- examineStudy with attention
- assessJudge worth or quality
- evaluateDetermine value or quality
- scrutinizeInspect with close attention
diagnose · dissect · deconstruct · study · review · appraise · investigate · critique
Express in another language
- renderCause to become
- convertChange in form or faith
- transcribeConvert to written form
- transliterateRender in foreign script
localize · adapt · mediate · bridge · cross-cultural · bilingual · sign language · lip-read
perceive
Become conscious of
- understandGrasp the meaning
- readComprehend written language
- viewWhat's seen from somewhere
see · take · construe · apprehend · grasp · comprehend · discern · conceive · regard · receive
explain
Make something understood
- clarifyMake something understandable
- elucidateTo make understood
- explicateClarify through detailed analysis
illuminate · demystify · decode · decipher · gloss · annotate · comment · contextualize · paraphrase · simplify
analyze
Study by breaking down
scrutinize · diagnose · dissect · deconstruct · study · review · appraise · investigate · critique · deduce
translate
Express in another language
- renderCause to become
- convertChange in form or faith
- transcribeConvert to written form
transliterate · localize · adapt · mediate · bridge · cross-cultural · bilingual · sign language · lip-read · subtitle
perform
Execute or present
embody · dramatize · act out · bring to life · characterize · deliver · execute · realize · present · play
- readingfluency, read, comprehension, readers, books
- communication verbssay, speak, tell, talk, ask
- analysisanalyze, analysis, evaluate, data analysis, examine
- clarifyexplain, clarify, elucidate, elaborate, spell out
- examineexamine, analyze, assess, evaluate, inspect
- performingperform, sing, play, act, dance
interpretmisinterpret
Understand something incorrectly
misunderstand · misconstrue · misread · misrepresent · distort
- biblical interpretationAnalyzing sacred text meaning
- dream interpretationAnalyzing nocturnal vision symbolism
- sign language interpreterTranslates between spoken and gestural communication
- interpretive danceMovement translating emotion into gesture
- literal interpretationTaking words at face value
- modern interpretationPresent-day understanding of something
interpretation, interpreter, misinterpret, interpreted, interpretive, interpreting, interprets, interpreters, misinterpreted