Hypertext Webster Gateway: "transmutation"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Transmutation \Trans`mu*ta"tion\, n. [F. transmutation, L.
transmutatio. See {Transmute}.]
1. The act of transmuting, or the state of being transmuted;
as, the transmutation of metals.
2. (Geom.) The change or reduction of one figure or body into
another of the same area or solidity, but of a different
form, as of a triangle into a square. [R.]
3. (Biol.) The change of one species into another, which is
assumed to take place in any development theory of life;
transformism. --Bacon.
{Transmutation of metals} (Alchem.), the conversion of base
metals into gold or silver, a process often attempted by
the alchemists. See {Alchemy}, and {Philosopher's stone},
under {Philosopher}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
transmutation
n 1: an act that changes the form or character or substance of
something [syn: {transubstantiation}]
2: a qualitative change [syn: {transformation}, {shift}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.