transmute
verb [ I or T, usually + adv/prep ] chemistry formal or specialized uk/trænzˈmjuːt/ us/trænsˈmjuːt/
彻底改变（尤指变成更好的他物）
to change something completely, especially into something different and better
A few centuries ago alchemists thought they could transmute lead into gold. 几个世纪以前炼金术士以为他们能把铅变成金子。
Plutonium transmutes into/to uranium when it is processed in a nuclear reactor. 钚在核反应堆中经过处理就变成了铀。