con|verse|ly /kɒ nvɜː r sli, kənvɜː r sli/ ADV You say conversely to indicate that the situation you are about to describe is the opposite or reverse of the one you have just described. [FORMAL ] □ In real life, nobody was all bad, nor, conversely, all good.
con|ver|sion /kənvɜː r ʃ ə n/ (conversions )
1 N‑VAR Conversion is the act or process of changing something into a different state or form. □ [+ of ] …the conversion of disused rail lines into cycle routes. □ A loft conversion can add considerably to the value of a house.
2 N‑VAR [oft with poss] If someone changes their religion or beliefs, you can refer to their conversion to their new religion or beliefs. □ [+ to ] …his conversion to Christianity. □ It's hard to trust the President's conversion.
con|vert ◆◇◇ (converts , converting , converted ) The verb is pronounced /kənvɜː r t/. The noun is pronounced /kɒ nvɜː r t/. 1 VERB If one thing is converted or converts into another, it is changed into a different form. □ [be V -ed + into/to ] The signal will be converted into digital code. □ [V n + into/to ] …naturally occurring substances which the body can convert into vitamins. □ [V + into/to ] …a table that converts into an ironing board.
2 VERB If someone converts a room or building, they alter it in order to use it for a different purpose. □ [V n] By converting the loft, they were able to have two extra bedrooms. □ [V n + into ] …the entrepreneur who wants to convert County Hall into an hotel. □ [V -ed] He is living in a converted barn.
3 VERB If you convert a vehicle or piece of equipment, you change it so that it can use a different fuel. □ [V n + to ] Save money by converting your car to unleaded. □ [V n] The programme to convert every gas burner in Britain took 10 years. [Also V n + into ]
4 VERB If you convert a quantity from one system of measurement to another, you calculate what the quantity is in the second system. □ [V n prep] Converting metric measurements to U.S. equivalents is easy. [Also V n]
5 VERB If someone converts you, they persuade you to change your religious or political beliefs. You can also say that someone converts to a different religion. □ [V n] If you try to convert him, you could find he just walks away. □ [V n + to ] He was a major influence in converting Godwin to political radicalism. □ [V + to ] He converted to Catholicism in 1917.
6 N‑COUNT A convert is someone who has changed their religious or political beliefs. □ [+ to ] She, too, was a convert to Roman Catholicism. □ I took to these new pursuits with the enthusiasm of a convert who has just found religion.
7 VERB If someone converts you to something, they make you very enthusiastic about it. □ [V n + to ] He quickly converted me to the joys of cross-country skiing. [Also V n]
8 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a convert to something, you mean that they have recently become very enthusiastic about it. □ [+ to ] …recent converts to vegetarianism.
9 to preach to the converted → see preach SYNONYMS convert VERB 1
turn into: A prince turns into a frog in this cartoon fairytale.
transform: Your body transforms food into energy.
adapt: Shelves were built to adapt the library for use as an office.
modify: The club members did agree to modify their recruitment policy.
alter: They have never altered their programmes by a single day.
con|vert|er /kənvɜː r tə r / (converters )
1 N‑COUNT A converter is a device that changes something into a different form.
2 → see also catalytic converter
con|vert|ible /kənvɜː r t I b ə l/ (convertibles )
1 N‑COUNT A convertible is a car with a soft roof that can be folded down or removed. □ Her own car is a convertible Golf.
2 ADJ In finance, convertible investments or money can be easily exchanged for other forms of investments or money. [BUSINESS ] □ …the introduction of a convertible currency. ● con|vert|ibil|ity /kənvɜː r t I b I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the convertibility of the rouble. □ …rapid export growth based on currency convertibility.
con|vex /kɒ nveks/ ADJ Convex is used to describe something that curves outwards in the middle. □ …the large convex mirror above the fireplace.
con|vey /kənve I / (conveys , conveying , conveyed )
1 VERB To convey information or feelings means to cause them to be known or understood by someone. □ [V n] In every one of her pictures she conveys a sense of immediacy. □ [V n] He also conveyed his views and the views of the bureaucracy.
2 VERB To convey someone or something to a place means to carry or transport them there. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The railway company extended a branch line to Brightlingsea to convey fish direct to Billingsgate.
con|vey|ance /kənve I əns/ (conveyances )
1 N‑COUNT A conveyance is a vehicle. [LITERARY ] □ Mahoney had never seen such a conveyance before.