Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of moving someone or something from one place, person, or situation to another: "Transfer" refers to the process of changing the location, ownership, or context of something or someone.
   • A document or ticket enabling a change in transportation: A "transfer" can be a ticket that allows a passenger to change from one vehicle or transportation line to another to continue a journey.
   • A person who moves from one place, group, or institution to another: "Transfer" can refer to an individual who is moved, such as a student or employee, from one position or location to another.

2. Verb:

   • To move someone or something from one place to another: The primary meaning is to cause a change in location or position.
   • To change ownership or possession of something: "Transfer" means to hand over or convey rights, title, or property from one person or entity to another.
   • To change from one vehicle or transportation line to another during a journey: This involves moving from one mode of transport to another.
   • To move an employee or student to a different job, department, or institution: This involves reassigning a person to a new role or location.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The transfer of funds between accounts was completed electronically. (The movement of money from one account to another was done electronically.)
  • I need a bus transfer to get to the museum. (I need a ticket to change buses to reach the museum.)
  • She is a new transfer from the London office. (She is a new person who has moved here from the London office.)

• Verb:

  • Please transfer the files to the shared drive. (Please move the files to the shared online storage.)
  • He decided to transfer the property to his daughter. (He decided to change the ownership of the property, giving it to his daughter.)
  • You have to transfer at the next station to catch the express train. (You have to change trains at the next station to get on the faster train.)
  • The company will transfer him to their Singapore branch. (The company will move him to work at their Singapore branch.)

Advanced Usage

• "Transfer of power": the process of moving authority or control from one person or group to another.

  • The peaceful transfer of power is essential for democracy. (The peaceful handing over of authority is a fundamental democratic principle.)

• "Heat transfer": the movement of thermal energy from one object or substance to another.

  • Insulation materials work by slowing down heat transfer. (Materials that prevent heat loss work by reducing the movement of thermal energy.)

• "To transfer a call": to redirect a telephone call to another line or extension.

  • Please hold while I transfer your call to the manager. (Please wait on the line while I connect your call to the manager's phone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Transferable (adj): capable of being moved or assigned to another person or place.

  • The ticket is not transferable to another person. (The ticket cannot be given to or used by someone else.)

• Transference (n): the action of transferring something; in psychology, the redirection of feelings from one person to another.

  • The transference of data was successful. (The process of moving the data was completed successfully.)

Synonyms

• Move: to change the place or position of.
• Shift: to move or cause to move from one place to another.
• Transmit: to pass or cause to pass from one place or person to another.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Transfer over: to move something or someone completely to a new place or system.
  • We need to transfer all the old records over to the new database. (We need to move all the old records completely into the new database system.)

Related Idioms

• A transfer window (in sports): a designated period during which football clubs can buy and sell players.
  • The club is looking to sign a new striker before the transfer window closes. (The club is trying to hire a new goal-scoring player before the allowed trading period ends.)

Noun

1. transferring ownership
2. application of a skill learned in one situation to a different but similar situation
3. a ticket that allows a passenger to change conveyances
4. the act of transfering something from one form to another
   • the transfer of the music from record to tape suppressed much of the background noise
5. someone who transfers or is transferred from one position to another
   • the best student was a transfer from LSU
6. the act of moving something from one location to another

Verb

1. transfer from one place or period to another
   • The ancient Greek story was transplanted into Modern America
2. shift the position or location of, as for business, legal, educational, or military purposes
   • He removed his children to the countryside
   • Remove the troops to the forest surrounding the city
   • remove a case to another court
3. send from one person or place to another
   • transmit a message
4. change from one vehicle or transportation line to another
   • She changed in Chicago on her way to the East coast
5. cause to change ownership
   • I transferred my stock holdings to my children
6. move around
   • transfer the packet from his trouser pockets to a pocket in his jacket
7. lift and reset in another soil or situation
   • Transplant the young rice plants
8. move from one place to another
   • transfer the data
   • transmit the news
   • transfer the patient to another hospital
9. transfer somebody to a different position or location of work