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transcription

n.
US //ˌtɹænsˈkɹɪpʃən// UK //tɹænskɹˈɪpʃən// tran·scrip·tion
  1. 1 written record of speech (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a written copy of words that were originally spoken or recorded.

    a written or printed representation of something originally spoken or recorded. Often used in legal or journalistic contexts.

    Example

    The court reporter provided a full transcription of the witness's testimony.

    Example

    The researchers spent weeks creating a detailed transcription of the interviews to ensure every nuance of the dialect was preserved for analysis.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'of'.
  2. 2 linguistic symbols (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the use of special symbols to show exactly how a word is pronounced.

    the representation of speech sounds in written form using a phonetic alphabet. Usually refers to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

    Example

    The dictionary includes a phonetic transcription to help you with pronunciation.

    Example

    Broad transcription provides a general idea of pronunciation, whereas narrow transcription captures specific articulatory details using diacritics.

    Teacher's tip

    In linguistics, distinguish between 'broad' and 'narrow' transcription when discussing phonetics.
    • phonetic notation
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  1. 3 musical arrangement (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Music

    a piece of music rewritten so it can be played by a different instrument.

    the adaptation of a musical composition for an instrument or medium other than that for which it was originally written.

    Example

    He played a piano transcription of a famous orchestral piece.

    Example

    Liszt's transcriptions of Beethoven's symphonies allowed these massive works to be performed in private homes on a single piano.

    Usage

    Typically takes the preposition 'for' (e.g., a transcription for solo violin).
  2. 4 biological process (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    the process where a cell makes a copy of a gene's DNA into RNA.

    the first step of gene expression, in which a particular segment of DNA is copied into RNA by the enzyme RNA polymerase.

    Example

    Transcription is a vital part of how our bodies use genetic information.

    Example

    Errors during the transcription process can lead to the production of dysfunctional proteins, potentially resulting in genetic disorders.

Origin

From Middle French transcription, or directly from Latin transcriptiōnem, from trānscrībō (“transcribe”).

Word family

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