ˌtɹæns.fɔɹˈmeɪ.ʃən ˌtɹæns.fə(ɹ)ˈmeɪ.ʃən tɹænzˈleɪʃ(ə)n tɹænzˈleɪʃ(ə)n the act of changing in form or shape or appearance a photograph is a translation of a scene onto a two-dimensional surface