mutate
UK[mjuːˈteɪt]US[ˈmjuːteɪt]
v
(of a gene, cell, or organism) to undergo a change in its genetic material, resulting in a new form or trait.
v
to change or cause to change in form or nature.
Morpheme Breakdown
mut
ate
mut
change
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
the word 'mutate' originates from the latin verb mutare, meaning "to change, alter, or shift". this latin root is itself derived from the proto-indo-european base mei-, which conveyed the sense of "to change, go, move". the suffix '-ate' was added in english to form a verb from the latin past participle, standardizing it into a pattern common for scientific and formal verbs. the term's journey from a general concept of change in latin to its specific modern application in genetics reflects a process of semantic narrowing, where the core idea of transformation was precisely applied to the alteration of genetic structure.
Analysis
Structure: mut (change) + ate (verb suffix)
- mut: from latin mutare meaning "to change". it functions as the core root conveying the sense of alteration.
- ate: a suffix of latin origin used to form verbs meaning "to act upon" or "to become".
Examples
the virus can mutate rapidly, making it difficult to develop a lasting vaccine.
scientists observed the bacteria mutate when exposed to the antibiotic.
the artist's style continued to mutate over the decades, never settling into a single form.