interpretation
Other forms: interpretations
When your favorite band covers a classic tune, their version is their interpretation — their translation — of the music. Is it better than the original? That's up for interpretation.
Interpretation is the act of explaining, reframing, or otherwise showing your own understanding of something. A person who translates one language into another is called an interpreter because they are explaining what a person is saying to someone who doesn't understand. Interpretation requires you to first understand the piece of music, text, language, or idea, and then give your explanation of it. A computer may produce masses of data, but it will require your interpretation of the data for people to understand it.
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the act of interpreting something as expressed in an artistic performancetypes:reinterpretationa new or different interpretationspina distinctive interpretation (especially as used by politicians to sway public opinion)type of:performancethe act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment
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an explanation that results from interpreting something“the report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence”types:exposition, expoundinga systematic interpretation or explanation (usually written) of a specific topicconstrualan interpretation of the meaning of something; the act of construingeisegesispersonal interpretation of a text (especially of the Bible) using your own ideasexegesisan explanation or critical interpretation (especially of the Bible)ijtihadthe endeavor of a Moslem scholar to derive a rule of divine law from the Koran and Hadith without relying on the views of other scholars; by the end of the 10th century theologians decided that debate on such matters would be closed and Muslim theology and law were frozenliteral interpretationan interpretation based on the exact wordingversionan interpretation of a matter from a particular viewpointreadinga particular interpretation or performancereconstructionan interpretation formed by piecing together bits of evidencephilosophizingthe exposition (often superficially) of a particular philosophyapproximationan imprecise or incomplete accountdisambiguationclarification that follows from the removal of ambiguitylettera strictly literal interpretation (as distinct from the intention)imbroglioa very embarrassing misunderstandingmisconstrual, misconstructiona kind of misinterpretation resulting from putting a wrong construction on words or actions (often deliberately)misreadingmisinterpretation caused by inaccurate readingtype of:account, explanationa statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
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an explanation of something that is not immediately obvious“the edict was subject to many interpretations”synonyms: interpreting, rendering, renditiontypes:broad interpretation, judicial activisman interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)type of:explanationthought that makes something comprehensible
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a mental representation of the meaning or significance of somethingtypes:reinterpretationa new or different meaninganagogea mystical or allegorical interpretation (especially of Scripture)type of:internal representation, mental representation, representationa presentation to the mind in the form of an idea or image
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Vocabulary lists containing interpretation
Argumentative writing involves investigating a topic, gathering and evaluating information, establishing a position, and writing about the position in a clear and concise manner. This list of vocabulary reviews the key terms that are essential to the art of argumentation. Here are links to our lists in the collection: List 1, List 2
Master these words that you are likely to see in test directions, question stems, and answer choices on the STAAR English I Test.
Master these words that you are likely to see in test directions, question stems, and answer choices on the STAAR English II Test.