Garble: meaning, definitions and examples
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garble
[ ˈɡɑːr.bəl ]
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
- distorcer
- embaralhar
🇮🇳 बिगाड़ना
🇩🇪 verzerren
🇮🇩 mengacaukan
🇺🇦 сплутувати
- викривляти
- заплутувати
🇵🇱 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.