What does "transmutation" mean?

Transmutation: (Geom.) The change or reduction of one figure or body into another of the same area or solidity, but of a different form, as of a triangle into a square. [R.]

Additional senses

2.(Biol.) The change of one species into another, which is assumed to take place in any development theory of life; transformism. Bacon. Transmutation of metals (Alchem.), the conversion of base metals into gold or silver, a process often attempted by the alchemists. See Alchemy, and Philosopher's stone, under Philosopher.

Sources

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00