Interpret

Interpret is a verb with several closely related meanings centered on discovering, conveying, or performing meaning. It commonly means to explain the meaning of information, actions, or events; to translate spoken or signed language from one language into another; to understand and convey the intended sense of something that is not obviously expressed; and to perform a work, such as a musical piece or dramatic role, in a way that communicates its meaning to an audience. The term can also refer to the analysis or presentation of data, texts, or laws in a particular interpretive framework.

Etymology traces interpret to the Latin interpretari, meaning to explain or declare, and its related forms such as interpretation or interpreter appear in many languages. The sense of translating or rendering meaning across contexts is a core thread in its historical development.

In usage, interpret is often contrasted with translate. Translate emphasizes converting linguistic content from one language to another, while interpret can imply rendering meaning more broadly, including nonverbal cues, intent, or cultural nuance. The word also yields adjectives such as interpretive, describing approaches that emphasize interpretation, and nouns like interpretation or interpreter.

Applications of interpretation span several fields. In language and communication, interpretation involves translating or conveying meaning between languages or modalities. In law, interpretation refers to determining the meaning of statutes and contracts. In the arts, to interpret a piece is to render it with one’s own understanding and expressive choices. In science and data analysis, interpretation concerns drawing conclusions from observations or models, rather than merely presenting raw results. In computing, an interpreter may execute code directly, providing another form of “execution” alongside compilation.