What does transpire mean?
Word: Transpire
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Transpire means to happen, or to become known after being secret. In science, plants transpire when they give off water vapour through their leaves.
Synonyms: happen, occur, emerge
How do you spell transpire?
Syllables: tran - spire
Tricky part: There is only one s in the middle, though students often write two: transspire.
Watch out for: transspire, tranzpire
Memory tip: Hiss the s only once: one s links the two halves of transpire.
Transpire in a sentence
Example 1: It later transpired that the missing kitten had been asleep in the cupboard.
Example 2: Nobody knows what will transpire at tomorrow's meeting.
Example 3: In science class we learnt that plants transpire through tiny holes in their leaves.
Fun Fact
In the 1590s transpire meant to give off vapour through the skin or leaves. The sense 'to become known' came along about 150 years later.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the option in which the following letters will fit in the given order: a, i, e
a) c_mp_r_
b) d_sc_pl_ne
c) s_pr_m_
d) tr_nsp_r_
Show answer
d) tr_nsp_r_. Putting in a, i and e gives transpire; discipline, compare and supreme take other vowels.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. transpire 2. vanish 3. linger a. to stay somewhere longer than needed b. to disappear suddenly c. to come to light
a) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
Show answer
d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a. Disappearing is vanishing and staying on is lingering, so coming to light must be transpire.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the given sentence?
It transpired that the rumour about a holiday was false, and the children were very dissapointed.
a) 0
b) 2
c) 1
d) 3
Show answer
c) 1. Disappointed has one s and two p's; the rest are correct.
Sound Check
Which of the following words rhymes with transpire?
a) cure
b) choir
c) chair
d) cheer
Show answer
b) choir. Choir is said KWIRE, ending like the spire in transpire, even though it is spelt so differently.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which words could replace transpired in 'It transpired that the shop was shut'?
a) turned out
b) refused
c) forgot
d) pretended
Show answer
a) turned out
2. On which kind of day would a mango tree transpire the most water?
a) a cold, foggy morning
b) a still, rainy night
c) a hot, dry, sunny day
d) a cool, damp evening
Show answer
c) a hot, dry, sunny day
