to mutate
82
6.9
- verb
- /mjuːˈteɪt/
:
mutar
- The radioactive contamination in that area has mutated the earthworm's DNA.
- virus mutates
- genes mutate
- DNA mutates
In the realm of culture, drugs mutate memes and create new memes.
- In the realm of culture, drugs mutate memes and create new memes.
- And the survivors mutate or develop new genes.
- Like America, What that means, it's mutating.
- Now, how to what extent this virus can mutate?
- And influenza, I mean, so many mutations, it mutates, you know, frenetically throughout the year.
- And it started to mutate slowly from a dream into a, a plan.
- If we don't eradicate it as soon as possible, it will continue to mutate.
- The person who wins the rat race slowly mutates into a rabies infested rodent.
- In the worst case scenario, the DNA in this cell is now mutated changed.
- This got heard as this got then mutated to paper clips.
Examples
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RNA viruses mutate more than DNA viruses.
-
Scientists discovered that the bacteria can mutate in response to antibiotics.
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The radiation in here alone is enough to damage, destroy, and mutate all of these materials around.
-
Time to be sure that the egg cells mutate with each successive generation.
Fiction book (2001) -
And the survivors mutate or develop new genes.
-
All I know is all I'm telling you is that viruses mutate like crazy.
-
But about six months ago, the virus mutated and became far stronger.
Fiction book (1997) -
Additionally, bacteria may mutate so that the target sites which the antibiotics affect are altered.
Academic text (2000) -
Because like influenza, it's a virus that mutates all the time.
-
When a gene on a more typical chromosome mutates, the chromosome can still recombine with its twin.
Academic text (2002)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To make something or someone different
493
2.5
To change something slightly or become different
95
2.6
Make something a little different
8
7.5
To change something into a different form or material
How Changed
Surface Forms
Morphology
mutate = mut + ate
Formed from the combining root 'mut-' plus the verb-forming suffix '-ate'; the root is not a standalone English word, so the relation is recognizable to learners familiar with related words (mutation, mutant) but not fully transparent to an average B1 learner.
Etymology
The word mutate comes from the Latin mutare, which means 'to change', and the same root is in mutation and mutable. So when living things or their genes mutate, they actually change form or nature, which is why scientists use the word for changes in DNA.