port

¹ American  

[pawrt, pohrt] / pɔrt, poʊrt /

noun

1. a city, town, or other place where ships load or unload.

2. a place along a coast in which ships may take refuge from storms; harbor.

   Synonyms:

   anchorage

3. Also called port of entry.  Law. any place where persons and merchandise are allowed to pass, by water or land, into and out of a country and where customs officers are stationed to inspect or appraise imported goods.

4. a geographical area that forms a harbor.

   the largest port on the eastern seaboard.

5. Informal. an airport.

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port ² American  

[pawrt, pohrt] / pɔrt, poʊrt /

noun

1. the left-hand side of a vessel or aircraft, facing forward.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or designating port.

2. located on the left side of a vessel or aircraft.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to turn or shift to the port, or left, side.

port ³ American  

[pawrt, pohrt] / pɔrt, poʊrt /

noun

1. any of a class of very sweet wines, mostly dark-red, originally from Portugal.

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port ⁴ American  

[pawrt, pohrt] / pɔrt, poʊrt /

noun

1. an opening in the side or other exterior part of a ship for admitting air and light or for taking on cargo.

2. Machinery. an aperture in the surface of a cylinder, for the passage of steam, air, water, etc.

3. a small aperture in an armored vehicle, aircraft, or fortification through which a gun can be fired or a camera directed.

4. Computers.

   1. a physical connection in a computer to which a peripheral device or a transmission line from a remote terminal can be attached.

   2. Also called port number.  a numerical code that identifies an origin or destination within an IP address.

      Routers can be configured to change ports within the local network.

5. the raised center portion on a bit for horses.

6. Chiefly Scot. a gate or portal, as to a town or fortress.

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port ⁵ American  

[pawrt] / pɔrt /

verb (used with object)

1. Military. to carry (a rifle or other weapon) with both hands, in a slanting direction across the front of the body, with the barrel or like part near the left shoulder.

2. Computers. to rewrite the source code of (a program) in a different programming language, or modify it to run on a different hardware platform or operating system (sometimes followed byover ).

   The publisher is porting several classic games to next-generation consoles.

   Our test suite may be useful if you are modifying the compiler, or porting it to a new system.

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noun

1. Military. the position of a rifle or other weapon when ported.

2. Digital Technology, Computers. a version of an existing program, such as a video game, written to run on a different platform or operating system.

3. Archaic. manner of bearing oneself; carriage or deportment.

Port. ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. Portugal.

2. Portuguese.

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port ¹ British  

/ pɔːt /

verb

1. (tr) computing to change (programs) from one system to another

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Port. ² British  

abbreviation

1. Portugal

2. Portuguese

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port ³ British  

/ pɔːt /

noun

1. a town or place alongside navigable water with facilities for the loading and unloading of ships

2. See port of entry

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port ⁴ British  

/ pɔːt /

verb

1. (tr) to carry (a rifle, etc) in a position diagonally across the body with the muzzle near the left shoulder

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noun

1. this position

port ⁵ British  

/ pɔːt /

noun

1. a sweet fortified dessert wine

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port ⁶ British  

/ pɔːt /

noun

1. Also called (formerly): larboard. 

   1. the left side of an aircraft or vessel when facing the nose or bow

   2. ( as modifier ) Compare starboard

      the port bow

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verb

1. to turn or be turned towards the port

port ⁷ British  

/ pɔːt /

noun

1. (esp in Queensland) a suitcase or school case

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port ⁸ British  

/ pɔːt /

noun

1. nautical

   1. an opening in the side of a ship, fitted with a watertight door, for access to the holds

   2. See porthole

2. a small opening in a wall, armoured vehicle, etc, for firing through

3. an aperture, esp one controlled by a valve, by which fluid enters or leaves the cylinder head of an engine, compressor, etc

4. electronics a logic circuit for the input and ouput of data

5. a gate or portal in a town or fortress

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port Scientific  

/ pôrt /

1. An opening, as in a cylinder or valve face, for the passage of steam or fluid.

2. A place where data can pass into or out of a central processing unit, computer, or peripheral. With central processing units, a port is a fixed set of connections for incoming and outgoing data or instructions. With computers and peripherals, a port is generally a socket into which a connector can be plugged.

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port Idioms  

1. see any port in a storm.

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Related Words

See harbor.

Other Word Forms

• portless adjective

Etymology

Origin of port¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English, from Latin portus “harbor, haven”; akin to ford

Origin of port²

First recorded in 1570–80; special use of port ⁴

Origin of port³

First recorded in 1695–95; earlier Oporto, from Portuguese O Porto, Oporto “the port” (that is, the main port of shipment for the wines of Portugal); Oporto l

Origin of port⁴

First recorded before 950; Middle English, Old English, from Latin porta “gate”; akin to portus “harbor”; port ¹

Origin of port⁵

First recorded in 1560–70; from French porter, from Latin portāre “to carry”; fare

Example Sentences

Iran is stepping up defenses around its biggest oil port and launching a mass recruitment drive amid U.S. troop deployments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Deploying new assets requires rounds of consultations and port calls by American warships can spark protests.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The Port of Dover is preparing for an increase of traffic, and is set to welcome some 37,000 cars through the port between Thursday and Sunday.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

These include Larak Island, just offshore from the key port of Bandar Abbas, and sitting right on the Strait of Hormuz.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Even if it didn’t drive them to a long delay in a foreign port, it would be with them every league of the way to Salem Harbor.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

Related Words

• harbor
• seaport
• wharf