the change of one chemical element into another by a nuclear reaction
3.
the attempted conversion, by alchemists, of base metals into gold or silver
Derived forms
transmutational (ˌtransmuˈtational) or transmutative (transˈmutative)
adjective
transmutationist (ˌtransmuˈtationist)
noun, adjective
transmutation in American English
(ˌtrænsmjuˈteɪʃən; ˌ trænzmjuˈteɪʃən)
noun
1.
a transmuting or being transmuted; change of one thing into another
2. Rare
a fluctuation
3.
in the Middle Ages, the supposedly possible conversion of base metals into gold and silver by alchemy
4. Chemistry
the conversion of atoms of a given element into atoms of a different isotope or of a different element, as in radioactive disintegration or by nuclear bombardment