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REFERENCE

convertible

adj. · n.
US //kənˈvɝtəbəɫ// UK //kənvˈɜːtəbəl// con·vert·ible
  1. 1 able to be changed (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    able to be changed from one form, purpose, or system to another.

    capable of being converted into a different form, state, or character.

    Example

    The guest room has a convertible sofa that turns into a comfortable bed.

    Example

    The designer focused on creating convertible spaces that could serve as either private offices or open-plan meeting areas depending on the company's daily needs.
  2. 2 car with a folding roof (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a car with a roof that you can fold down or remove to drive in the open air.

    an automobile with a passenger compartment that can be converted from an enclosed to an open-air configuration via a folding or removable top.

    Example

    We rented a red convertible and drove along the coast with the top down.

    Example

    While the vintage convertible was aesthetically stunning, its manual roof mechanism proved cumbersome during sudden summer rainstorms.
    • cabriolet
    • roadster
    • hardtop
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  1. 3 finance/stocks (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Law

    a type of investment, like a bond, that can be changed into company shares later.

    a security, typically a bond or preferred stock, that can be exchanged for a specified number of shares of common stock at the holder's option.

    Example

    The company issued convertibles to raise money without immediately giving up control.

    Example

    Investors were drawn to the convertibles because they offered the safety of fixed interest with the potential upside of equity participation if the startup's valuation soared.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural when referring to a class of assets.
    • convertible bond
    • convertible note
  2. 4 laptop/tablet hybrid (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

    a computer that can work as both a laptop with a keyboard and a tablet with a touchscreen.

    a portable computer designed to function as both a laptop and a tablet, typically featuring a 360-degree hinge or a detachable keyboard.

    Example

    I bought a convertible so I could take notes with a pen during lectures.

    Example

    The latest convertible on the market features a high-resolution display and a hinge mechanism that feels sturdy even after thousands of transitions between modes.
    • 2 in 1
    • hybrid laptop
Origin

From Old French convertible, from Late Latin convertibilis (“interchangeable”), from Latin convertere (“to turn back, to turn over, to turn around, to turn upside down”), from con- (“with, together”) + vertere (“to turn”), + -ibilis (“-ible: able to”). Equivalent to convert + -ible.

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