1. (

• transmutation ,
• transubstantiation

) an act that changes the form or character or substance of something ;

2. (

• transformation ,
• transmutation ,
• shift ,

) a qualitative change ;

3. (

• transmutation ,

) (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" ;