mutate
C1Formal/Technical, but understood in general contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To undergo or cause a significant change in form, nature, or genetic structure.
To change or cause to change from one form, state, or concept to another, often in a fundamental or irreversible way.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a profound, often biological or chemical, transformation. In computing/gaming, it means to change programmatically. The biological sense is most primary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British media discourse regarding societal or cultural change (e.g., 'the party has mutated'). In American English, the biological/virological sense is perhaps more salient.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, with a notable spike in usage during health crises (e.g., pandemic coverage).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] mutate (intransitive)[S] mutate into NP[O] mutate NP (transitive, rare in biological sense)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mutate into something else”
- “Mutate beyond recognition”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Used metaphorically: 'The startup mutated from a delivery app into a full logistics platform.'
Academic
Common in biology, genetics, virology, and linguistics (phonetic mutation).
Everyday
Mostly in news about viruses, sci-fi/fantasy contexts (mutants), or humor about change.
Technical
Precise term in genetics (a change in the nucleotide sequence) and programming (to change data structure).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The virus could mutate and become more transmissible.
- Over centuries, the pronunciation mutated considerably.
- The lab culture was left to mutate spontaneously.
American English
- Health officials worry the strain will mutate again.
- The software code is designed to mutate under certain conditions.
- The original folk tale mutated into a Hollywood blockbuster.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard) The cells were changing almost mutately.
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) The sound evolved mutately over the track.
adjective
British English
- The mutate gene was identified through sequencing.
- They studied the mutate strain in isolation.
American English
- Researchers isolated the mutate protein.
- The game features mutate creatures with special abilities.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Scientists say the flu virus can mutate every year.
- The story mutated as different people told it.
- If the pathogen mutates into a more virulent form, it could pose a greater threat.
- The company's strategy has mutated considerably since the new CEO took over.
- Point mutations occur when a single nucleotide base pair is substituted, inserted, or deleted, causing the gene to mutate.
- The artist's style mutated from abstract expressionism into a unique form of digital surrealism.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MUTAnt + ate. A MUTAnt ATE something and CHANGED.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE IS TRANSFORMATION OF ESSENCE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'мутировать' for all contexts; for simple change, use 'изменяться'. 'Мутировать' is correct for biological/technical senses.
- Do not confuse with 'mutilate' (калечить).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a simple synonym for 'change' (too strong).
- Incorrect transitive use in biology: 'The scientist mutated the virus' (implies deliberate genetic engineering; 'caused the virus to mutate' is better).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'mutate' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while its primary use is biological (viruses, genes, cells), it is commonly used in computing, linguistics, and metaphorically for ideas, organisations, and sounds.
'Mutate' refers to a single, often random change in genetic structure. 'Evolve' is a broader, slower process of change over generations, often involving natural selection acting on mutations.
Yes, but carefully. In biology, saying 'X mutates Y' typically implies genetic engineering. In computing, it's standard: 'The function mutates the array.' For natural biological change, the intransitive form ('Y mutates') is safer.
'Mutation' is the primary noun. 'Mutant' is a noun or adjective for an organism resulting from a mutation. 'Mutate' itself is primarily a verb.