portal

¹ American  

[pawr-tl, pohr-] / ˈpɔr tl, ˈpoʊr- /

noun

1. a door, gate, or entrance, especially one of imposing appearance, as to a palace.

   Synonyms:

   threshold, entry, doorway, entranceway

2. an iron or steel bent for bracing a framed structure, having curved braces between the vertical members and a horizontal member at the top.

3. an entrance to a tunnel or mine.

4. Computers. a website that functions as an entry point to the internet, as by providing useful content and linking to various sites and features on the World Wide Web.

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portal ² American  

[pawr-tl, pohr-] / ˈpɔr tl, ˈpoʊr- /

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to the transverse fissure of the liver.

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noun

1. portal vein.

portal British  

/ ˈpɔːtəl /

noun

1. an entrance, gateway, or doorway, esp one that is large and impressive

2. any entrance or access to a place

3. computing an internet site providing links to other sites

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adjective

1. anatomy

   1. of or relating to a portal vein

      hepatic portal system

   2. of or relating to a porta

portal Cultural  

1. A Web site that provides a gateway to other Web sites.

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Other Word Forms

• portaled adjective
• portalled adjective

Etymology

Origin of portal¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English portale, from Medieval Latin, noun use of neuter of portālis “of a gate.” See portal ²

Origin of portal¹

First recorded in 1605–15, portal is from the Medieval Latin word portālis of a gate. See port ⁴, -al ¹

Example Sentences

Both surges were powered by a new rule that lets schools share athletic revenues with athletes, which enabled them to land top quarterbacks in the transfer portal.

From The Wall Street Journal

Scottish Gas said it was "sorry to hear that some residents in Glasgow's Govan area have had some trouble completing their Warm Home Discount application through the online portal".

From BBC

Regarding the transfer portal, Riley said he plans to be less reliant on it than in previous years.

From Los Angeles Times

What’s not clear is why Woods was still in the transfer portal two months into the college basketball calendar.

From Los Angeles Times

Californians are bracing for monthly premiums on the Covered California exchange — a state portal for Obamacare coverage — to soar by 97% on average for 2026.

From Los Angeles Times