transformation
transformation — noun
1. the process or result of a person or thing becoming very different in appearance
the process or result of a person or thing becoming very different in appearance, nature, or condition — for example, a run-down neighbourhood turned into a clean, lively area, or someone who leaves a dead-end job and builds a completely new career.
The old factory district underwent a remarkable transformation into a lively arts and culture hub.
undergo a transformation — used with 'into'
Bilal's transformation from shy office worker to confident team leader surprised his closest friends.
transformation from X to Y — before-and-after pattern
Digital technology has driven a huge transformation in how people shop, learn, and stay in touch.
Linh watched her garden's slow transformation from bare soil to a colourful flower paradise.
Diego went from a depressed factory worker to a confident restaurant owner — a complete personal transformation.
- change
much broader; can be small or partial, whereas transformation implies a complete shift
- conversion
emphasises a change in purpose or function rather than appearance or character
- overhaul
suggests thorough repair or reorganisation, often of a system or machine
- metamorphosis
a literary or biological term for a striking, often natural, shape change (e.g. caterpillar to butterfly)
- stagnation
a period without growth or change
用法筆記
Frequently preceded by adjectives such as 'dramatic', 'remarkable', or 'radical' that emphasise the extent of the change. Often appears in the structure 'transformation from [A] to/into [B]'. Can be countable ('a remarkable transformation') or uncountable ('a period of transformation').
常見錯誤
2. an operation, such as moving, turning, stretching, or reflecting a shape, that c
an operation, such as moving, turning, stretching, or reflecting a shape, that changes its position or form according to a fixed rule — for example, rotating a triangle around a central point, or mapping the points of a square onto new positions using a formula.
A reflection is a type of transformation that flips a shape across a straight line.
reflection — a type of geometric transformation
Esteban learned that a rotation transformation turns a triangle ninety degrees around a fixed point.
rotation transformation — named geometric subtype with concrete example
The students plotted the transformation of the triangle on the coordinate grid in class.
In geometry class, Xiu applied a rotation transformation to move the square ninety degrees.
Some computer graphics rely on matrix transformations to render three-dimensional objects on screen.
用法筆記
Domain: mathematics. Common subtypes include reflection (flipping), rotation (turning), translation (sliding), and dilation (resizing). In advanced contexts, the term also refers to functions that map one coordinate system or vector space onto another. This sense is typically used in formal, academic writing.
常見錯誤
3. the process by which a living cell takes in DNA from its surroundings and perman
the process by which a living cell takes in DNA from its surroundings and permanently changes its genetic material — a technique widely used in biotechnology to modify bacteria for producing medicine or studying genes.
Bacterial transformation is a key technique used in genetic engineering laboratories worldwide.
bacterial transformation — the most common type in labs
The scientists successfully induced transformation in the cell using a purified DNA sample.
induce transformation — verb collocation
Iris studied how transformation allows bacteria to acquire new traits like antibiotic resistance.
The transformation process requires the bacterial cell to be in a special state called competence.
Modern gene therapy builds on the natural transformation mechanisms found in certain cells.
- genetic modification
broader term covering any technique that alters an organism's DNA, not just uptake of free DNA
用法筆記
Domain: genetics. This is a technical term used primarily in scientific writing. Distinguish from 'transduction' (DNA transferred by a virus) and 'conjugation' (DNA transferred by direct cell-to-cell contact). In laboratory practice, transformation is often artificially induced by heat shock or electroporation.