conversion

 
Pronunciation: /kənˈvəːʃ(ə)n/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1the process of changing or causing something to change from one form to another: the conversion of food into body tissues
  • the adaptation of a building or part of a building for a new use: the conversion of a house into flats [count noun]: they were carrying out a loft conversion
  • [count noun] British a building that has been adapted for a new use: high-quality cottages and barn conversions
  • Law the changing of real property into personalty, or of joint into separate property, or vice versa.
  • Logic the transposition of the subject and predicate of a proposition according to certain rules to form a new proposition by inference.
  • 2the fact of changing one’s religion or beliefs or the action of persuading someone else to change theirs: he insists that real conversion is a matter of the heart [count noun]: his passion for seventeenth-century literature had led the former atheist to a sudden conversion
  • Christian Theology repentance and change to a godly life: the individual’s responsibility in conversion is to repent and believe
  • 3 [count noun] Rugby a successful kick at goal after a try, scoring two points: Gavin Hastings landed one penalty and one conversion
  • American Football an act of converting a touchdown or a down.
  • 4 (also conversion rate) (in the context of online marketing) the proportion of people viewing an advertisement and going on to buy the product, click on a link, etc.: you’ll see better conversion rates for your local advertising if you include your physical address on your website keeping things simple will improve conversion
  • 5 Law the action of wrongfully dealing with goods in a manner inconsistent with the owner’s rights: he was found guilty of the fraudulent conversion of clients' monies
  • 6 Psychiatry the manifestation of a mental disturbance as a physical disorder or disease: [as modifier]: conversion disorders

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'turning of sinners to God'): via Old French from Latin conversio(n-), from convers- 'turned about', from the verb convertere (see convert)

Grammar

The process by which a word from one word class is used as if it belonged to another class. For example, glue started life as a noun, but is now frequently used as a verb. Many conversions are so common that we no longer notice them, but conversion is also a feature of creative uses of language: ‘I really have some severe doubts regarding this partnership,’ said he, upping and awaying. It is often said that ‘there is no noun in English that can’t be verbed’. (Tom McArthur)