transcription
gb/tɹˌænskɹˈɪpʃən/ us/tɹˌænskɹˈɪpʃən/
B2
English
~ 7900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
written version of spoken words
Written words that show exactly what someone said in a recording, interview, or meeting.
Usage pattern:
a transcription of [spoken words/recording]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "transcription" with "translation." A transcription changes speech into written form in the SAME language, while a translation changes words from one language to another. Learners also mix up "transcription" and "transcript"; "transcript" is the finished document, while "transcription" can mean both the document and the process of creating it.
Synonyms
transcript (Very close in meaning; often used in official or academic contexts for a written record of speech.)
|
written record (More general and less technical; can be any written account, not only one based on audio.)
Antonyms
audio recording (The opposite medium: sound instead of written text.)
Collocations
audio transcription
|video transcription
|podcast transcription
|interview transcription
|meeting transcription
|full transcription
Themes
media
|education
|technology
|communication
|work
Examples
- The journalist requested a full transcription of the press conference before writing her article.
- I uploaded the podcast and received the transcription by email an hour later.
- Accurate transcription of the interview helped the researcher analyze the participants’ exact words.
- The court reporter’s transcription will be used as the official record of the trial.
- He read the transcription of the speech instead of watching the video.
Learner examples
- I read the transcription of the interview online.
- The company sent me a transcription of our phone call.
- Please check the transcription for spelling mistakes.
- The transcription shows every word the teacher said.
Noun
B2
action
2
activity of turning speech into text
The work or process of listening to speech and writing the words as text.
Usage pattern:
to do transcription for [clients/company]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "transcription" always refers to a document, not realizing it can also mean the ongoing work or job (e.g. "I do transcription").
Synonyms
transcribing (Very close in meaning but often used as a verb form; refers to the same activity.)
|
typing up audio (Informal phrase that focuses on the practical act of typing what is heard.)
Antonyms
dictation (Describes the opposite direction of work: speaking so that someone else writes, rather than writing what is already spoken.)
Collocations
do transcription
|transcription work
|transcription job
|transcription service
|transcription company
|professional transcription
Themes
work
|media
|technology
|communication
Examples
- She does freelance transcription for several marketing agencies.
- Transcription can be very time‑consuming if the audio quality is poor.
- The hospital outsources its transcription to a specialized company.
- Accurate transcription requires careful listening and strong language skills.
- They use AI tools to automate part of the transcription process.
Learner examples
- He does transcription from home as his job.
- Transcription takes a lot of time when people speak fast.
- The company offers transcription for meetings and calls.
- I want to learn transcription so I can work online.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
phonetic/phonemic writing of speech
Writing the sounds of speech with special phonetic symbols to show how a word is pronounced.
Usage pattern:
a phonetic transcription of [a word/sentence]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse phonetic transcription with normal spelling. Phonetic transcription shows sounds, not letters, and often uses unfamiliar symbols from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
Synonyms
phonetic notation (A more formal technical term; usually used in linguistic description and textbooks.)
Antonyms
standard spelling (Shows how a word is normally written in a language, not how every sound is pronounced.)
Collocations
phonetic transcription
|phonemic transcription
|broad transcription
|narrow transcription
|IPA transcription
Themes
language
|education
|science
|communication
Examples
- The dictionary includes a phonetic transcription for every entry.
- In phonology class, we had to write a narrow transcription of the recording.
- This transcription uses phonemic symbols to show only the important sound differences.
- Learners often find phonetic transcription helpful for improving their pronunciation.
- Different textbooks may use slightly different conventions in their transcriptions.
Learner examples
- In this book, each word has a phonetic transcription.
- The phonetic transcription shows how to say the word.
- My teacher asked us to write a transcription of the sentence in IPA.
- I use transcription to check my English pronunciation.
Noun
technical
C1
event
4
biological copying of DNA into RNA
In biology, the process where a cell uses DNA to make an RNA copy of the genetic information.
Usage pattern:
transcription of [DNA/gene] into [RNA/mRNA]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "transcription" with "translation" in molecular biology. Transcription is DNA → RNA, while translation is RNA → protein.
Synonyms
gene transcription (More specific; highlights that the process is happening at the level of individual genes.)
Antonyms
gene silencing (Refers to biological mechanisms that prevent a gene from being transcribed and expressed.)
Collocations
DNA transcription
|gene transcription
|RNA transcription
|transcription factor
|transcription rate
|transcription regulation
Themes
science
|biology
Examples
- Transcription is the first step of gene expression in cells.
- Certain drugs can inhibit viral transcription and slow down infection.
- Transcription of this gene into mRNA is tightly controlled by several proteins.
- The researcher measured how quickly transcription occurred under different conditions.
- Transcription factors bind to DNA and help regulate which genes are active.
Learner examples
- In biology, transcription copies DNA information into RNA.
- Transcription is an important step before a protein is made.
- Some medicines can slow transcription of a virus’s genes.
- Transcription factors help control which genes are used.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
5
piece of music arranged for another instrument
A version of a piece of music written so another instrument or group can play it.
Usage pattern:
a transcription for [piano/guitar/solo instrument]
Common mistake:
Learners may think a musical "transcription" always involves big creative changes. In many cases it is a fairly faithful version of the original, just written for another instrument or group.
Synonyms
arrangement (Broader musical term; can include changes in style or structure, while "transcription" often aims to stay closer to the original.)
Antonyms
original score (The first version written by the composer, before any transcription or arrangement.)
Collocations
piano transcription
|solo transcription
|orchestral transcription
|guitar transcription
|choral transcription
Themes
music
|arts
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- She performed a piano transcription of a famous orchestral piece.
- This transcription keeps all the main melodies but simplifies the harmony for guitar.
- The choir sang a transcription of a string quartet by Beethoven.
- Jazz musicians often learn from transcriptions of classic solos.
- The transcription makes the complex violin part playable on the flute.
Learner examples
- He played a piano transcription of an opera song.
- The guitar transcription is easier than the original piece.
- Our choir will sing a transcription of a violin piece.
- I downloaded a transcription of the song for solo piano.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
6
written copy of existing text
A written copy of an old or hard‑to‑read text, made so people can read and study it more easily.
Usage pattern:
a transcription of [a manuscript/inscription/document]
Common mistake:
Learners may assume "transcription" always involves audio. In academic or historical contexts, it can also mean making a careful written copy of an existing text or inscription.
Synonyms
copy (More general and less formal; does not suggest the same level of accuracy or difficulty as "transcription" often does.)
Antonyms
original document (The first, source text from which the transcription is made.)
Collocations
literal transcription
|faithful transcription
|full transcription
|manuscript transcription
|inscription transcription
Themes
education
|history
|communication
Examples
- The historian published a transcription of the damaged medieval manuscript.
- Scholars rely on a modern transcription of the stone inscription for their research.
- Because the handwriting was unclear, creating an accurate transcription took several weeks.
- The book includes both photos of the original letters and a clean transcription.
- An edited transcription of the diary is available for the public to read.
Learner examples
- The old letter is hard to read, so we use a transcription.
- The book has a photo of the stone and a transcription of the words.
- Students worked together to make a transcription of the old text.
- The transcription helps us read the damaged document.
Grammar
Dictionary form
transcription
IPA
GB/tɹˌænskɹˈɪpʃən/
US/tɹˌænskɹˈɪpʃən/
Syllables & stress
tran - scrip - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (scrip)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: transcription
- Plural: transcription, transcriptions
Word family
Forms
transcriptions
noun
Core family
transcribe
verb B1
transcript
noun B2
Related words
transcriber
noun
transcriptionist
noun
Advanced or less common
transcriptional
adjective
Expressions
audio transcription
1/ˈɔdioʊ tɹˌænskɹˈɪpʃən/
fixed phrase
turning audio recordings into text
The process of listening to an audio file and writing the words as text.
Examples
- The podcast offers free audio transcription for people who prefer to read.
- Audio transcription can make meetings more searchable and easier to review later.
- They use software to speed up audio transcription, then a human checks the text.
DNA transcription
1/dˈi ˈɛn ˈeɪ tɹˌænskɹˈɪpʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
copying DNA into RNA in cells
In cells, the process where information in DNA is copied to make an RNA molecule.
Examples
- DNA transcription is tightly regulated during cell development.
- The lecture explained how errors in DNA transcription can lead to disease.
- Certain proteins speed up DNA transcription in response to signals.
medical transcription
1/mˈɛdɪkəl tɹˌænskɹˈɪpʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
typing doctors’ spoken notes
A job where someone listens to doctors’ or nurses’ recorded words and types them as medical reports.
Examples
- She works in medical transcription, typing doctors’ notes into patient records.
- Many hospitals now outsource their medical transcription to specialized companies.
- Good knowledge of medical vocabulary is essential for medical transcription.
phonetic transcription
1/fənˈɛtɪk tɹˌænskɹˈɪpʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
writing speech with phonetic symbols
Writing how words sound by using special phonetic symbols instead of normal letters.
Examples
- The teacher showed the phonetic transcription of each new word on the board.
- Using phonetic transcription can help you notice small differences in vowel sounds.
- This dictionary provides both the normal spelling and the phonetic transcription.
phonetic transcription
1/fənˈɛtɪk tɹˌænskɹˈɪpʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
written record of speech sounds
writing speech with special symbols to show how it sounds
Examples
- The article includes phonetic transcriptions of the speakers’ vowels.
- Students practiced making a phonetic transcription of short dialogues.
- A broad phonetic transcription can be easier for learners than a very detailed one.
transcription error
1/tɹˌænskɹˈɪpʃən ˈɛɹɚ/
fixed phrase
mistake in written version of speech or data
A mistake that happens when someone is copying speech or text into a written form.
Examples
- A simple transcription error changed the date in the contract.
- Please check the document carefully for any transcription errors.
- In genetics, a transcription error can sometimes have serious effects on the cell.
transcription service
1/tɹˌænskɹˈɪpʃən sˈɚvɪs/
fixed phrase
business that turns recordings into text
A company or service that you pay to change your audio or video recordings into written text.
Examples
- We hired a transcription service to handle all our webinar recordings.
- The transcription service charges by the minute of audio.
- Online transcription services are popular with researchers and journalists.