reconvert

Everyday

1. To change something back into what it was before, or into another form again. tree →
2. To change a building or machine back to its old use. tree →
3. To bring someone back to a belief or religion they had left. tree →

In the lessons

In maths and science it means changing units or forms again, for example turning centimetres into metres and then back to check an answer. In everyday life people reconvert a garage back into a room or a file back into its first format. It tells the reader that a change is being undone or repeated. Phrases: «reconvert to», «reconvert into», «reconvert back».

Examples

• We converted 3 metres into centimetres and then reconverted it to check. tree →
• Dad wants to reconvert the playroom into a garage. tree →
• The old church was reconverted from a shop into a place of worship. tree →
• Can you reconvert the photo into the old file type? tree →
• The ice melted and the water was frozen again, so it was reconverted into ice. tree →
• Some machines can reconvert heat into electricity. tree →
• After the war the factory was reconverted to make cars again. tree →

Note

Regular verb: reconverted, reconverting. «re-» means «again» or «back». In maths, reconverting does not change the amount: 300 cm reconverted is still 3 m. Not a very common word; «convert back» is said more often.