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garble

verb

/ˈɡɑːbl/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of garble

To distort or confuse information by mixing it up, rearranging it or otherwise altering it in a way that makes it difficult to understand.
"His nervousness caused him to garble the content during his presentation."

Detailed meaning of garble

Garbling can occur intentionally or unintentionally and can happen with any kind of information, such as language, data, or signals. The result of garbling is a loss of accuracy or clarity in the information, making it harder to interpret or use. Garbling can be a serious problem in contexts where clear communication is crucial, such as in technical fields like engineering or medicine, or in legal or political contexts where miscommunication can have serious consequences. To avoid garbling, it is important to be clear and precise in communication and to use reliable sources of information.

Example sentences containing garble

1. The poor phone reception caused his voice to garble during the conversation.
2. Please speak slowly and clearly so that your message doesn't garble.
3. The noise from the construction site made the audio garble on the video recording.
4. The faulty microphone caused the singer's performance to garble during the live concert.
5. The outdated fax machine tends to garble the incoming messages.
6. The strong wind made his words garble as he shouted across the field.

History and etymology of garble

The verb 'garble' has a complex and intriguing etymology that traces its roots to both Italian and Arabic. It is derived from the Italian word 'garbellare,' which means 'to sift' or 'to strain,' and this, in turn, comes from the Arabic word 'gharbala,' which referred to the process of sifting or cleaning something, especially spices. Over time, the meaning of 'garble' evolved in English to describe the act of distorting or confusing information by mixing it up, rearranging it, or altering it in a way that makes it difficult to understand. The etymology of 'garble' reflects this historical connection to the sifting and straining process, where elements are separated and perhaps intentionally jumbled, creating a sense of confusion or distortion in the conveyed information.

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Further usage examples of garble

1. The malfunctioning printer would sometimes garble the text on the documents.
2. The interference from nearby devices caused the radio signal to garble intermittently.
3. The poor audio quality made the podcast episode garble and hard to understand.
4. The old cassette tape player would often garble the music, distorting the sound.
5. The sudden interruption caused the recorded interview to garble for a few seconds.
6. The language barrier made their conversation garble at times, leading to misunderstandings.
7. The faulty speaker system would occasionally garble the announcements at the train station.
8. The poor connection made the video conference garble, disrupting the communication.
9. The heavy rain made the radio signal garble, making it difficult to hear the news.
10. The distorted microphone garbled his voice, making it challenging to comprehend.
11. The damaged headphone cable would occasionally garble the audio on one side.
12. The rushed speech caused her words to garble together, making it hard to decipher.
13. The encrypted message was deliberately garbled to protect its content.
14. The faulty transmission equipment would often garble the radio broadcasts.