Garble: meaning, definitions and examples

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garble

 

[ ˈɡɑːr.bəl ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

communication error

To garble means to alter or distort something in a way that makes it unintelligible or difficult to understand. This often happens in communication when information is inaccurately relayed or misrepresented. It can occur during speech, writing, or even the transmission of data. In essence, when something is garbled, the original meaning is obscured. The term is often used in the context of phone calls, radio transmissions, or even in the editing of text.

Synonyms

confuse, distort, jumble, muddle

Examples of usage

  • The message got garbled during the transmission.
  • His explanation was so garbled that no one understood.
  • The audio quality was poor, leading to garbled voices.
  • Don't garble your words when speaking in public.

Translations

Translations of the word "garble" in other languages:

🇵🇹 confundir

🇮🇳 बिगाड़ना

🇩🇪 verzerren

🇮🇩 mengacaukan

🇺🇦 сплутувати

🇵🇱 zniekształcać

🇯🇵 混乱させる

🇫🇷 déformer

🇪🇸 distorsionar

🇹🇷 bozmak

🇰🇷 왜곡하다

🇸🇦 تشويش

🇨🇿 zkreslit

🇸🇰 skresliť

🇨🇳 扭曲

🇸🇮 zviti

🇮🇸 snúast

🇰🇿 бұзуға

🇬🇪 დასუსტება

🇦🇿 qarışdırmaq

🇲🇽 confundir

Etymology

The word 'garble' comes from the Latin term 'garbiliare', which means 'to sort'. Its Middle English form 'garblen' signified the act of sifting or sorting, but over time, it evolved in usage to encompass the idea of mixing up or distorting information. The transition from the notion of sorting to that of distortion likely arose from the way information, when mixed or jumbled, becomes indistinct or unclear, reflecting the original sorting process gone awry. The earliest known use of the term in this context dates back to the 15th century, where it was predominantly used in relation to the blending of thoughts or speech that resulted in misunderstanding or confusion. Today, it is often employed in a variety of contexts, especially in technology and communication, to describe scenarios where clarity is lost due to distortion.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,384, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.