transmutation

1 an act that changes the form or character or substance of something [syn: transubstantiation]

2 a qualitative change [syn: transformation, shift]

3 (physics) the change of one chemical element into another (as by nuclear decay or radioactive bombardment); "the transmutation of base metals into gold proved to be impossible"

English

Noun

1. the act of transmuting or the state of being transmuted
2. the supposed transformation of base metals into gold by the alchemists
3. the transformation of one element into another by a nuclear reaction

Transmutation may refer to:

In pre-scientific experimentation:

• Alchemy, the quest to discover a way to turn inexpensive metals such as lead into gold.

In physics:

• Nuclear transmutation, the conversion of one chemical element or isotope into another through nuclear reaction.
• Dimensional transmutation, a physical mechanism that transforms a pure number into a parameter with a dimension.

In biology:

• Transmutation of species, the alteration of one species into another.
• Biological transmutation, a form of nuclear transmutation said by some scientists to occur within living organisms

In religion

• Transmutation is sometimes used as a synonym for transubstantiation of the Eucharist

In film and television:

• Transmutate, a character from the Transformers series Beast Wars.
• "Human Transmutation", the 46th episode of the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist.
  • Transmutation circle, a circle used to perform alchemy in Fullmetal Alchemist.

In music:

• Transmutation (Mutatis Mutandis), an album by the supergroup Praxis.

Other:

• Sexual transmutation, an attempt to transform sexual energy into creativity and thereby magically facilitate spiritual awakening