portable

American  

[pawr-tuh-buhl, pohr-] / ˈpɔr tə bəl, ˈpoʊr- /

adjective

1. capable of being transported or conveyed.

   a portable stage.

2. easily carried or conveyed by hand.

   I found a lightweight, portable propane stove for our trekking holiday.

3. Computers. (of data sets, software, etc.) capable of being used on different computer systems.

4. Obsolete. endurable.

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noun

1. something that is easily carried by hand, especially as distinguished from a counterpart that is harder or less convenient to move.

   Of their three television sets, one is a portable.

portable British  

/ ˈpɔːtəbəl /

adjective

1. able to be carried or moved easily, esp by hand

2. (of software, files, etc) able to be transferred from one type of computer system to another

3. archaic able to be endured; bearable

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noun

1. an article designed to be readily carried by hand, such as a television, typewriter, etc

Other Word Forms

• nonportable adjective
• portability noun
• portably adverb
• unportable adjective

Etymology

Origin of portable

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin portābilis; port ⁵, -able

Example Sentences

Emerging portable testing methods include X-ray fluorescence analysers for turmeric and handheld DNA kits to test olive oil.

From BBC

In November, French and Italian investigators arrested five people suspected of manufacturing such devices which have been sold worldwide, disguised as portable Bluetooth loudspeakers.

From BBC

The driver and two EMTs, one of whom grabs a kit and another who is carrying a portable nebulizer.

From Literature

Think of a portable power station as a huge phone brick, one big enough to keep your milk from spoiling.

From The Wall Street Journal

His data centers around the Memphis area have had to contend with energy constraints and Musk brought in a number of portable gas turbines to power the facilities.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• compact
• convenient
• handy
• lightweight