mutate

[myoo-teyt]

verb (used with object)

mutated, mutating 

1. to change; alter.

2. Biology.,  to cause (a gene, cell, etc.) to undergo an alteration of one or more characteristics.

   The disease mutates the retina’s rod cells, and they slowly stop working.

3. Phonetics.,  to change by umlaut.

verb (used without object)

mutated, mutating 

1. to undergo change.

   It was a gamble to mutate from hard rock frontman to big band crooner, but he went seriously retro and won that bet in a huge way.

2. Biology.,  (of a gene, cell, etc.) to undergo an alteration of one or more characteristics.

   Drug-resistant cells mutate more quickly and could migrate into surrounding tissue.

mutate

/ mjuːˈteɪtɪv, ˈmjuːtətɪv, mjuːˈteɪt /

verb

1. to undergo or cause to undergo mutation

Other Word Forms

• mutative adjective
• nonmutative adjective
• unmutated adjective
• unmutative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutate¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from Latin mūtātus, past participle of mūtare “to change”; -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutate¹

C19: from Latin mūtātus changed, from mūtāre to change

Example Sentences

Viruses can mutate to escape from antibodies, but the mRNA vaccines are not causing the emergence of more virulent strains, likely for at least two reasons.

From Salon

“MRNA vaccines do not cause the virus to mutate — they do that all on their own,” writes Steven Novella, a neurologist and veteran misinformation debunker.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, he says, he would shift funding to "safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate".

From BBC

He said the department was shifting the funding toward "safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate".

From BBC

But when they come out through me, they mutate and turn into this thing that makes sense.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• alter 
• modify