transcribe

verb

tran·​scribe tran(t)-ˈskrīb 

transcribed; transcribing

transitive verb

1

a

: to make a written copy of

b

: to make a copy of (dictated or recorded matter) in longhand or on a machine (such as a typewriter)

c

: to paraphrase or summarize in writing

d

: write down, record

2

a

: to represent (speech sounds) by means of phonetic symbols

b

: translate sense 1a

c

: to transfer (data) from one recording form to another

d

: to record (as on magnetic tape) for later broadcast

3

: to make a musical transcription of

4

: to cause (DNA or RNA) to undergo genetic transcription

transcriber noun

Examples of transcribe in a Sentence

He transcribed all of his great-grandfather's letters.

The senator's speech was transcribed.

a Mozart string quartet transcribed for piano

a system that allows linguists to transcribe the sounds of any language

Recent Examples on the Web

The legacy-building was set in motion by Elizabeth Peabody herself, who doggedly transcribed the group’s conversations when Fuller worried that talk was too ephemeral to make a historical impact. —Francesca Wade, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

Smarter Notes Photograph: Apple The Notes app now comes equipped with the ability to transcribe audio sessions and summarize notes. —Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 21 Jan. 2025

Our reporters spent months examining and transcribing hours of footage that provide the verbatim dialogue for police exchanges with Gamaly and Richard Hollis and enabled us to describe these scenes with immediacy and intimacy. —Miami Herald Editors, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025

In its quest to transcribe historic documents, the National Archives is looking for volunteers with an increasingly rare skill: reading cursive. —Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin transcribere, from trans- + scribere to write — more at scribe

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

transcribe

verb

tran·​scribe tran(t)s-ˈkrīb 

transcribed; transcribing

1

a

: to make a written copy of

b

: to make a copy of (dictated or recorded matter) by hand or on a machine (as a typewriter)

2

: to represent speech sounds with phonetic symbols

transcriber noun

Medical Definition

transcribe

transitive verb

tran·​scribe tran(t)s-ˈkrīb 

transcribed; transcribing

: to cause (as DNA) to undergo genetic transcription