portable

[ˈpɔːtəbl]

portable Definition

  • 1able to be easily carried or moved, especially because being of a lighter and smaller version than usual
  • 2able to be transferred from one system or device to another without modification

Using portable: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "portable" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The laptop is a portable computer.

  • Example

    This speaker is small and portable, so you can take it anywhere.

  • Example

    The company offers portable versions of their software for easy installation.

portable Synonyms and Antonyms

Phrases with portable

  • a file format used to present documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems

    Example

    Please send me the report in PDF format so that I can open it on any device.

  • portable music player

    a device used to play digital audio files that can be carried around easily

    Example

    I always bring my portable music player with me when I go for a run.

  • a device that produces electricity and can be easily moved from one place to another

    Example

    We bought a portable generator in case of a power outage during a storm.

Origins of portable

from Old French 'portatif', from Latin 'portare' meaning 'to carry'

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Summary: portable in Brief

The term 'portable' [ˈpɔːtəbl] describes something that can be easily carried or moved, often because it is smaller and lighter than usual. It can also refer to something that can be transferred from one system or device to another without modification. Examples include 'The laptop is a portable computer.' and 'This speaker is small and portable, so you can take it anywhere.' 'Portable' extends into phrases like 'portable document format (PDF),' and 'portable music player,' denoting devices that can be easily carried around.

How do native speakers use this expression?