transpire
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /tɹænˈspaɪ̯ə(ɹ)/
  • (America) IPA: /tɹænˈspaɪ̯ɚ/
Verb

transpire (transpires, present participle transpiring; past and past participle transpired)

  1. (ambitransitive) To give off (vapour, waste matter etc.); to exhale (an odour etc.). [from 16th c.]
  2. (obsolete, intransitive) To perspire. [17th-19th c.]
  3. (botany, intransitive) Of plants, to give off water and waste products through the stomata. [from 17th c.]
  4. (intransitive) To become known; to escape from secrecy. [from 18th c.]
    It eventually transpired that the murder victim had been a notorious blackmailer.
    • The story of Paulina's and Maximilian's mutual attachment had transpired through many of the travellers.
  5. (loosely, intransitive) To happen, take place. [from 18th c.]
    • 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, p. 166:
      Although I was prevented from attending the 1952 annual conference, I was immediately informed as to what had transpired.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations


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