<p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object)<ul><li>Mutated, mutating: To change; alter.</li><li>Biology: To cause (a gene, cell, etc.) to undergo an alteration of one or more characteristics: The disease mutates the retina’s rod cells, and they slowly stop working.</li><li>Phonetics: To change by umlaut.</li></ul></li><li>(used without object)<ul><li>Mutated, mutating: To undergo change: It was a gamble to mutate from hard rock frontman to big band crooner, but he went seriously retro and won that bet in a huge way.</li><li>Biology: (of a gene, cell, etc.) To undergo an alteration of one or more characteristics: Drug-resistant cells mutate more quickly and could migrate into surrounding tissue.</li></ul></li></ul>