Word
transcription
Phoneticstran·scrip·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌtɹænsˈkɹɪpʃən/
UK/tɹænskɹˈɪpʃən/
Definitions
01written record of speech
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a written copy of words that were originally spoken or recorded.
n. a written or printed representation of something originally spoken or recorded. Often used in legal or journalistic contexts.
“The court reporter provided a full transcription of the witness's testimony.”
“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'.
Synonyms
02linguistic symbols
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the use of special symbols to show exactly how a word is pronounced.
n. the representation of speech sounds in written form using a phonetic alphabet. Usually refers to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
“The dictionary includes a phonetic transcription to help you with pronunciation.”
“Broad transcription provides a general idea of pronunciation, whereas narrow transcription captures specific articulatory details using diacritics.”
Teaching tip
In linguistics, distinguish between 'broad' and 'narrow' transcription when discussing phonetics.
Synonyms
03musical arrangement
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Music Technical
n. a piece of music rewritten so it can be played by a different instrument.
n. the adaptation of a musical composition for an instrument or medium other than that for which it was originally written.
“He played a piano transcription of a famous orchestral piece.”
“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).
Synonyms
04biological process
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the process where a cell makes a copy of a gene's DNA into RNA.
n. the first step of gene expression, in which a particular segment of DNA is copied into RNA by the enzyme RNA polymerase.
“Transcription is a vital part of how our bodies use genetic information.”
“Errors during the transcription process can lead to the production of dysfunctional proteins, potentially resulting in genetic disorders.”
Real-World Examples
“What emerged was a far more dynamic and surprising picture of the copy machine process, called gene transcription, than they had expected.” “For example, Gboard now has AI-assisted voice transcription built in for Pixel phones.” Etymology
From Middle French transcription, or directly from Latin transcriptiōnem, from trānscrībō (“transcribe”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/transcription