transplant
B2Formal (Medical/Botanical), Neutral (General)
Definition
Meaning
To move (an organ, tissue, or plant) from one place or body to another.
The act of transplanting or the item transplanted; more broadly, to relocate or transfer something from one environment to another, including ideas or populations.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word carries a sense of careful transfer and new establishment in a different context, often involving adaptation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling of related words (e.g., transplantation) follows national conventions. In gardening, "transplant" is standard in both; 'prick out' (UK) is a related seedling action.
Connotations
Generally identical positive connotations of life-saving (medical) or cultivation (botany).
Frequency
Slightly more common in AmE due to larger media coverage of medical advances, but this is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
transplant something (from something) (into/to something)transplant something (as something)be transplanted (from...) (to...)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly from 'transplant'. Concept appears in metaphors like 'a cultural transplant']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; used metaphorically for moving teams or operations: 'The firm transplanted its marketing division to Singapore.'
Academic
Common in medical and botanical literature, also in sociology (e.g., 'transplanted communities').
Everyday
Primarily in contexts of gardening ('transplant seedlings') and discussions of medical news ('He needs a transplant').
Technical
Core term in transplant immunology, horticulture, and surgery.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We need to transplant these lettuces to a bigger pot.
- Surgeons transplanted the donor liver successfully.
- She felt like a country girl transplanted into London society.
American English
- He transplanted the rose bush to a sunnier spot.
- The team was transplanted from New York to LA.
- Doctors plan to transplant the pancreas tomorrow.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form. 'Transplantably' is not used.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form. 'Transplantably' is not used.]
adjective
British English
- The transplant team is on standby.
- She is on the transplant waiting list.
- Transplant surgery has advanced greatly.
American English
- He is a transplant recipient from Chicago.
- The transplant program is world-renowned.
- Transplant organs are in short supply.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor said he needs a new kidney.
- I will transplant the flowers tomorrow.
- My grandfather had a heart transplant last year.
- You should transplant the seedlings when they have two leaves.
- The patient's body rejected the transplanted organ despite medication.
- The author explores the challenges of being culturally transplanted.
- The phenological mismatch posed a serious risk to the transplanted population of the endangered species.
- Her research critiques the notion of legal systems being facilely transplanted between disparate cultures.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
TRANS (across) + PLANT (to place). Think: 'to place something across' from one spot to another.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/IDEAS AS A PLANT THAT CAN BE MOVED AND RE-ROOTED.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'transplant' as 'трансплантация' in casual gardening contexts where 'пересаживать' is more natural.
- Confusing 'transplant' (n) with 'transplantation' (n) – the latter is the process, the former is the act or the item.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect stress: Stressing the first syllable is common in AmE, but learners often stress the second universally.
- Using 'implant' interchangeably (an implant is inserted, not moved from elsewhere).
- Misspelling as 'transplante' or 'transplantic'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'transplant' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is commonly used as both. In medical contexts, the noun is very frequent (e.g., 'get a transplant'). In gardening, the verb is common.
A transplant is moved from one place/person to another. An implant (like a pacemaker) is a new device placed inside, not moved from elsewhere.
Yes, metaphorically or literally. 'She was a Midwestern transplant living in New York' refers to a person who relocated.
Yes, it's a standard medical procedure where hair follicles are relocated from one part of the scalp to another.