Noun

Singular cabriolet

Plural cabriolets

cabriolet (plural cabriolets)

1. An automobile with a retractable top.
2. (originally) A light two wheeled carriage with a folding top pulled by a single horse

Synonyms

• (1): convertible
• (1): roadster

Dutch

Noun

cabriolet m. (plural cabrioletten, diminutive cabrioletje, diminutive plural cabrioletjes)

1. cabriolet carriage or - car

French

Noun

cabriolet m. (plural cabriolets)

1. a cabriolet carriage
2. a convertible car
3. a knotted cord, each end tied to wood, to tie criminals to by the wrists
4. a Directoire style hat type

A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle. Many different automobile body styles are manufactured and marketed in convertible form.

Roof designs vary widely, but a few characteristics are common to all convertibles. Roofs are affixed to the body of the vehicle and are usually not detachable. Instead the roof is hinged and folds away, either into a recess behind the rear seats or into the boot or trunk of the vehicle. The roof may operate either manually or automatically via hydraulic or electrical actuators, and the roof itself may be constructed of soft or rigid material. Soft-tops are made of vinyl, canvas or other textile material, while hard-tops are made of steel, aluminum, plastic or other rigid materials.

Contemporary convertibles are known and marketed under several different terms due to the convergence of body styles over the years. A soft-top convertible may also be referred to as a cabriolet or cabrio or spyder, although two-seater soft tops often retain the name roadster, referring to their body style. Hard-tops are marketed under the terms coupé cabriolet, coupé convertible or simply retractable hardtop, while two-seaters more commonly use coupé roadster/roadster coupé.