interpret

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To explain the meaning of: interpreted the ambassador's remarks. See Synonyms at explain.
2. v. To conceive the significance of; construe: interpreted his smile to be an agreement; interpreted the open door as an invitation.
3. v. To present or conceptualize the meaning of by means of art or criticism.
4. v. To translate orally.
5. v. To offer an explanation.
6. v. To serve as an interpreter for speakers of different languages.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To expound the meaning or significance of, as by translation or explanation; elucidate or unfold, as foreign or obscure language, a mystery, etc.; make plain or intelligible.
2. To show the purport of; develop or make clear by representation: as, to interpret a drama or a character by action on the stage.
3. To construe; attribute a given meaning to: as, the company interpreted his silence unfavorably.
4. Synonyms Render, Construe, etc. (see translate); Expound, Elucidate, etc. (see explain).
5. To practise interpretation; make an interpretation or explanation; tell or determine what something signifies.

Wiktionary

1. v. To explain or tell the meaning of; to expound; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms; to decipher; to define; -- applied especially to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc.; as, to interpret the Hebrew language to an Englishman; to interpret an Indian speech.
2. v. To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation; as, an actor interprets the character of Hamlet; a musician interprets a sonata; an artist interprets a landscape.
3. v. intransitive To act as an interpreter.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To explain or tell the meaning of; to expound; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms; to decipher; to define; -- applied esp. to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc.
2. v. To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation
3. v. To act as an interpreter.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. give an interpretation or rendition of
2. v. give an interpretation or explanation to
3. v. make sense of a language
4. v. create an image or likeness of
5. v. restate (words) from one language into another language
6. v. make sense of; assign a meaning to