WordGarden.iotransportable
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /trænspˈɔːtəbəl/
US
- /trænˈspɔrtəbəl/
Meanings
Adjective
able to be transported or moved from place to place
Beyond the definition
Something that's transportable can be moved from one place to another without too much difficulty. Think of a camping tent: it's designed to be packed up and taken to different campsites. Not everything is transportable, though. A skyscraper is not going anywhere easily. The word usually suggests that an object or item was made with movement in mind. It is not just that something can be moved, but that it is reasonably easy to do so. You might describe a laptop as highly transportable because of its size and weight, while a grand piano is clearly not.
The word "transportable" describes anything capable of being carried or conveyed from one place to another. It goes beyond simply being movable; it suggests an ease of movement, often implying the item has been designed or constructed with portability in mind. While almost anything can be transported given enough effort and resources (like moving an entire historic house on a barge!), something truly transportable is relatively easy to move.
Consider early explorers—they needed transportable supplies like dried food, lightweight tools, and collapsible shelters. Modern examples abound: smartphones are incredibly transportable communication devices, while modular homes are designed to be transportable housing solutions.
The context of "transportable" often highlights a contrast with something fixed or immobile. We might say that portable classrooms are used when schools become overcrowded, offering a transportable solution to space shortages. The word is most often used for physical things, especially objects, equipment, or buildings that can be moved when needed.
So, if something is designed for easy movement, built with portability in mind, or simply isn't too cumbersome to carry, it's likely transportable. It's a word that speaks to flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to take things with you on your journey.
Examples
- 1
Medical equipment
The clinic uses transportable X-ray equipment in remote areas.
- 2
Moving home
We bought a transportable desk because we move often.
- 3
Emergency shelter
The shelter is designed to be transportable by truck.
- 4
Job sites
The company redesigned the machine to make it more transportable between job sites.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- transportableadjective