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Imply vs Interpret - What's the difference?

imply | interpret |

As verbs the difference between imply and interpret

is that imply is to have as a necessary consequence while interpret is 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.

imply

English

Verb

(en-verb)
  • (of a proposition) to have as a necessary consequence
    • The proposition that "all dogs are mammals" implies that my dog is a mammal
  • (of a person) to suggest by logical inference
    • When I state that your dog is brown, I am not implying that all dogs are brown
  • (of a person or proposition) to hint; to insinuate; to suggest tacitly and avoid a direct statement
    • What do you mean "we need to be more careful with hygiene"? Are you implying that I don't wash my hands?
  • (archaic) to enfold, entangle.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.iv:
    • And in his bosome secretly there lay / An hatefull Snake, the which his taile vptyes / In many folds, and mortall sting implyes .

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . See

    Synonyms

    * (to have as a necessary consequence) entail * (to suggest tacitly) allude, hint, insinuate, suggest

    Related terms

    * implicate * implication * implicative * implicit * implicitness * implision

    See also

    * connotation * entail

    External links

    * *

    interpret

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • 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.
  • * The Holy Bible, (w) i. 23.
    • Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
  • * The Holy Bible, (w) xli. 8.
    • And Pharaoh told them his dreams; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-26, author=(Leo Hickman)
    • , volume=189, issue=7, page=26, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= How algorithms rule the world , passage=The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives.
  • 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.
  • To act as an interpreter.

    • Synonyms

    * translate, explain, solve, render, expound, elucidate, decipher, unfold, unravel

    Related terms

    * interpretation * interpretative * interpreter * interpretive

    References

    * * ----