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Definition of portable - 5 dictionary results

port⋅a⋅ble

[pawr-tuh-buhl, pohr-]
–adjective
1. capable of being transported or conveyed: a portable stage.
2. easily carried or conveyed by hand: a portable typewriter.
3. Computers. (of data sets, software, etc.) capable of being used on different computer systems.
4. Obsolete. endurable.
–noun
5. something that is portable, esp. as distinguished from a nonportable counterpart: Of their three television sets, one is a portable.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < LL portābilis. See port 5 , -able


port⋅a⋅bly, adverb
por·ta·ble   (pôr'tə-bəl, pōr'-)   
adj.  
  1. Carried or moved with ease: a portable typewriter; a portable generator.
  2. Capable of being transferred from one employer to another. Used of an employee benefit.
  3. Computer Science Relating to or being software that can run on two or more kinds of computers or with two or more kinds of operating systems.
  4. Obsolete Bearable; endurable.
n.  Something, such as a light or small typewriter, that can be carried or moved with ease.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin portābilis, from Latin portāre, to carry; see per-2 in Indo-European roots.]
por'ta·bil'i·ty, por'ta·ble·ness n., por'ta·bly adv.

Portable

Port"a*ble\, a. [L. portabilis, fr. portare to carry: cf. F. portable. See Port demeanor.]

1. Capable of being borne or carried; easily transported; conveyed without difficulty; as, a portable bed, desk, engine. --South.

2. Possible to be endured; supportable. [Obs.]

How light and portable my pain seems now! --Shak.

Portable forge. See under Forge.

Portable steam engine. See under Steam engine.
Language Translation for : portable
Spanish: portátil,
German: tragbar,
Japanese: 持ち運びできる

portable 
c.1400, from Fr. portable, from L.L. portabilis "that can be carried," from L. portare "to carry" (see port (1)).

portable
portability

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