ENGLISH
REFERENCE

portable

adj. · n.
US //ˈpɔɹtəbəɫ// UK //pˈɔːtəbəl// por·ta·ble
  1. 1 easy to carry (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    small and light enough to be carried or moved easily.

    capable of being carried or moved with ease, typically due to compact design or light weight.

    Example

    I bought a portable speaker so we can listen to music at the beach.

    Example

    The development of portable medical equipment has revolutionized emergency care in remote areas where permanent clinics are unavailable.
  2. 2 software compatibility (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    describes software that can run on different types of computers or operating systems.

    referring to software capable of being executed on multiple hardware platforms or operating systems with minimal modification.

    Example

    The app is highly portable and works on both Windows and Mac.

    Example

    Engineers prioritized writing portable code to ensure the application could be deployed across various server architectures without extensive rewriting.
    • platform specific
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  1. 3 transferable benefits (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    describes something, like a pension or a phone number, that you can take with you when you change companies.

    capable of being transferred from one employer, system, or organization to another without loss of value or status.

    Example

    One benefit of this job is a portable pension that stays with you if you leave.

    Example

    The government introduced legislation to make health insurance plans more portable for workers moving between different states.
    • non transferable
  2. 4 a mobile device (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

    a small computer or electronic device that you can carry with you.

    a compact, battery-powered electronic device, such as a computer or gaming console, designed for mobile use.

    Example

    He spent the whole flight playing games on his portable.

    Example

    While desktop sales have declined, the market for high-end portables continues to grow as professionals demand more power on the go.
  3. 5 temporary building (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English

    a small building that can be moved, often used as an extra classroom at a school.

    a prefabricated, modular building designed to be transported and used for temporary accommodation or workspace.

    Example

    The school had to set up two portables in the car park because there were too many students.

    Example

    Due to the sudden increase in enrollment, the district authorized the installation of several portables to serve as temporary science laboratories.
Origin

From Middle English portable, from Middle French portable and Latin portābilis. By surface analysis, port (“to carry”) + -able.

Word family

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