trans-

trans- [trans, tranz]

[L trans- (contr. to tra- before d-, m-, n-, l-, v-, j-) < trans, across, over, orig., prob. prp. of * trare, to pass, seen in intrare, extrare < IE base * ter-, to go, over, beyond > THROUGH] prefix

1. on the other side of, to the other side of, over, across, through [transatlantic, transpierce]

2. so as to change thoroughly [transliterate]

3. above and beyond; transcending [transonic]

4. Chem.

a) designating an isomer having certain atoms or groups on opposite sides of a given plane in the molecule (in chemical names, usually printed in italic type and hyphenated and disregarded in alphabetization) [trans-butene]: see CIS-

b) designating the elements beyond (a given element) in the periodic table [transuranium]: It occas. becomes TRAN- before s; in words of Latin origin, it becomes TRA- before d, j, l, m, n, or v