convert1

[v. kuh n-vurt; n. kon-vurt] /v. kənˈvɜrt; n. ˈkɒn vɜrt/
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.
3.
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.
4.
to modify (something) so as to serve a different function:
to convert an automobile factory to the manufacture of tanks.
5.
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.
6.
Finance. to exchange voluntarily (a bond or preferred stock) into another security, usually common stock, because of the greater value of the latter.
7.
to change in character; cause to turn from an evil life to a righteous one:
to convert a criminal.
8.
Chemistry. to cause (a substance) to undergo a chemical change:
to convert sugar into alcohol.
9.
to invert or transpose.
10.
Law.
  1. to assume unlawful rights of ownership of (personal property).
  2. to change the form of (property), as from realty to personalty or vice versa.
11.
to appropriate wrongfully to one's own use.
12.
Logic. to transpose the subject and predicate of (a proposition) by conversion.
13.
Computers. to subject to conversion.
verb (used without object)
14.
to become converted.
15.
Football. to make a conversion.
noun
16.
one who has been converted, as to a religion or opinion.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English converten < Latin convertere to change completely, equivalent to con- con- + vertere to turn round (see verse); convert (noun) replacing converse, Middle English convers (< Anglo-French) < Latin; see converse2
Related forms
convertive, adjective
Synonyms
1. See transform. 2. proselytize. 16. proselyte, neophyte, disciple.

convert2

[kon-vurt] /ˈkɒn vɜrt/
noun, Informal.
1.
a convertible automobile.
2.
a convertible bond.
Origin
by shortening of convertible
Examples from the web for convert
  • It's home to a type of acetic acid-producing bacteria called acetobacter, which will convert your wine to vinegar.
  • These two ligaments convert the sciatic notches into foramina.
  • Every convert to the admiration of the real poet or orator is the cause of some new conversion.
  • Forward-thinking companies are starting to figure out ways to convert their logos to tools of engagement.
  • Tall smokestacks tend to convert local air pollution into regional acid rain.
  • Only the organization can convert the specialized knowledge of the knowledge worker into performance.
  • In nature, only certain rare decomposition fungi can convert coumarin to the anti-coagulant molecule.
  • Another teams up with unrelated bacteria species and uses sulfate to convert the greenhouse gas into energy.
  • Deep in the sun's core, nuclear fusion reactions convert hydrogen to helium, which generates energy.
  • Hydroelectric plants built from bank to bank harness the power of water and convert it to electricity.
British Dictionary definitions for convert

convert

verb (mainly transitive) (kənˈvɜːt)
1.
to change or adapt the form, character, or function of; transform
2.
to cause (someone) to change in opinion, belief, etc
3.
to change (a person or his way of life, etc) for the better
4.
(intransitive) to admit of being changed (into): the table converts into a tray
5.
(also intransitive) to change or be changed into another chemical compound or physical state: to convert water into ice
6.
(law)
  1. to assume unlawful proprietary rights over (personal property)
  2. to change (property) from realty into personalty or vice versa
7.
(also intransitive) (rugby) to make a conversion after (a try)
8.
(logic) to transpose the subject and predicate of (a proposition) by conversion
9.
to change (a value or measurement) from one system of units to another
10.
to exchange (a security or bond) for something of equivalent value
noun (ˈkɒnvɜːt)
11.
a person who has been converted to another belief, religion, etc
Derived Forms
convertive, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Old French convertir, from Latin convertere to turn around, alter, transform, from vertere to turn
Word Origin and History for convert
v.

c.1300, from Old French convertir, from Vulgar Latin *convertire, from Latin convertere "turn around, transform," from com- "together" (see com-) + vertere "to turn" (see versus). Originally in the religious sense. The Latin word is glossed in Old English by gecyrren, from cierran "to turn, return." Related: Converted; converting.

n.

1560s, from convert (v.). Earlier was convers (early 14c.).

convert in Technology
language
1. (Or "REC", "Regular Expression Converter") A string processing language that combined the pattern matching and transformation operations of COMIT with the recursive data structures of Lisp.
["Convert", A. Guzman et al, CACM 9(8):604-615, Aug 1966].
2. An early language to convert programs and data from one language to another.
["CONVERT Manual", OLI Systems Inc, Oct 1976].
(2007-02-05)