Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act or process of making a written, typed, or printed copy from spoken or recorded material: "Transcription" refers to the conversion of speech or audio into a written or text format.
   • A written or printed copy produced by this process: The resulting document or text itself can be called a transcription.
   • (Genetics) The process by which genetic information encoded in DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA): This is a fundamental biological process for gene expression.
   • (Music) An arrangement of a piece of music for a voice or instrument different from the original: It involves adapting a composition for a new medium.

Examples of Usage

• General Use:
  • The secretary completed the transcription of the meeting minutes. (The secretary finished converting the spoken meeting notes into a written document.)
  • Please send me the transcription of the interview. (Please send me the written text of the recorded interview.)
• Genetics:
  • DNA transcription is the first step in protein synthesis. (The process of copying DNA into mRNA is the initial stage of creating proteins.)
• Music:
  • He performed a piano transcription of a famous violin concerto. (He played an arrangement of a well-known violin concerto adapted for piano.)

Advanced Usage

• Phonetic transcription: The visual representation of speech sounds using a specialized set of symbols.
  • Linguists use phonetic transcription to document the precise pronunciation of words.
• Medical transcription: The specialized practice of converting voice-recorded medical reports dictated by healthcare professionals into text format.
  • She works in medical transcription for a large hospital.
• Literal transcription: A word-for-word written account that includes all utterances, pauses, and filler words.
  • The court required a literal transcription of the witness's testimony.

Variants and Related Words

• Transcribe (verb): To make a transcription; to copy out in writing.
  • He will transcribe the ancient manuscript.
• Transcript (noun): A written or printed version of material originally presented in another medium. Often refers to an official academic record or a written copy of a broadcast.
  • She requested her university transcript.
• Transcriptionist (noun): A person whose job is to transcribe spoken or recorded material.
  • The law firm hired a new transcriptionist.

Synonyms

• Copy: A thing made to be similar or identical to another.
• Record: A written account of something that is kept for evidence or information.
• Rendering: A performance or interpretation, especially of a dramatic role or piece of music.
• Adaptation: The process of changing something to suit a new purpose.

Related Phrases

• Transcription error: A mistake made during the process of copying or converting information.
  • The discrepancy was due to a simple transcription error in the data entry.
• Transcription service: A company or business that provides transcription as a service.
  • We outsourced the audio files to a professional transcription service.
• Transcription factor: (Genetics) A protein that controls the rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to mRNA.
  • The scientist studied how the transcription factor regulated the gene.

Noun

1. the act of making a record (especially an audio record)
   • she watched the recording from a sound-proof booth
2. the act of arranging and adapting a piece of music
3. a sound or television recording (e.g., from a broadcast to a tape recording)
4. (genetics) the organic process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA; the process whereby a base sequence of messenger RNA is synthesized on a template of complementary DNA
5. something written, especially copied from one medium to another, as a typewritten version of dictation