convert

1
[ verb kuhn-vurt; noun kon-vurt ]
See synonyms for: convertconvertedconverting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to change (something) into a different form or properties; transmute; transform.

  2. to cause to adopt a different religion, political doctrine, opinion, etc.: to convert the heathen.

  1. to turn to another or a particular use or purpose; divert from the original or intended use: They converted the study into a nursery for the baby.

  2. to modify (something) so as to serve a different function: to convert an automobile factory to the manufacture of tanks.

  3. to obtain an equivalent value for in an exchange or calculation, as money or units of measurement: to convert bank notes into gold; to convert yards into meters.

  4. Finance. to exchange voluntarily (a bond or preferred stock) into another security, usually common stock, because of the greater value of the latter.

  5. to change in character; cause to turn from an evil life to a righteous one: to convert a criminal.

  6. Chemistry. to cause (a substance) to undergo a chemical change: to convert sugar into alcohol.

  7. to invert or transpose.

  8. Law.

    • to assume unlawful rights of ownership of (personal property).

    • to change the form of (property), as from realty to personalty or vice versa.

  9. to appropriate wrongfully to one's own use.

  10. Logic. to transpose the subject and predicate of (a proposition) by conversion.

  11. Computers. to subject to conversion.

verb (used without object)
  1. to become converted.

  2. Football. to make a conversion.

noun
  1. one who has been converted, as to a religion or opinion.

Origin of convert

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb converten, from Latin convertere “to change completely,” equivalent to con- intensive prefix + vertere “to turn”; noun convert replacing converse, Middle English convers, ultimately from Latin conversus; see also converse2, verse1

synonym study For convert

1. See transform.

Other words for convert

Other words from convert

  • con·ver·tive, adjective

Words Nearby convert

Other definitions for convert (2 of 2)

convert2
[ kon-vurt ]

nounInformal.
  1. a convertible automobile.

Origin of convert

2
By shortening of convertible

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use convert in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for convert

convert

verb(kənˈvɜːt) (mainly tr)
  1. to change or adapt the form, character, or function of; transform

  2. to cause (someone) to change in opinion, belief, etc

  1. to change (a person or his way of life, etc) for the better

  2. (intr) to admit of being changed (into): the table converts into a tray

  3. (also intr) to change or be changed into another chemical compound or physical state: to convert water into ice

  4. law

    • to assume unlawful proprietary rights over (personal property)

    • to change (property) from realty into personalty or vice versa

  5. (also intr) rugby to make a conversion after (a try)

  6. logic to transpose the subject and predicate of (a proposition) by conversion

  7. to change (a value or measurement) from one system of units to another

  8. to exchange (a security or bond) for something of equivalent value

noun(ˈkɒnvɜːt)
  1. a person who has been converted to another belief, religion, etc

Origin of convert

1
C13: from Old French convertir, from Latin convertere to turn around, alter, transform, from vertere to turn

Derived forms of convert

  • convertive, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012