harbor

especially British, har·bour

[hahr-ber]

noun

1. a part of a body of water along the shore deep enough for anchoring a ship and so situated with respect to coastal features, whether natural or artificial, as to provide protection from winds, waves, and currents.

2. such a body of water having docks or port facilities.

3. any place of shelter or refuge.

   The old inn was a harbor for tired travelers.

   Synonyms: retreat, sanctuary, asylum

verb (used with object)

1. to give shelter to; offer refuge to.

   They harbored the refugees who streamed across the borders.

   Synonyms: lodge, protect

2. to conceal; hide.

   to harbor fugitives.

3. to keep or hold in the mind; maintain; entertain.

   to harbor suspicion.

4. to house or contain.

5. to shelter (a vessel), as in a harbor.

verb (used without object)

1. (of a vessel) to take shelter in a harbor.

Other Word Forms

• harborer noun
• harborless adjective
• harborous adjective
• unharbored adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of harbor¹

before 1150; Middle English herber ( we ), herberge, Old English herebeorg lodgings, quarters ( here army + ( ge ) beorg refuge); cognate with German Herberge

Synonym Study

Harbor, haven, port indicate a shelter for ships. A harbor may be natural or artificially constructed or improved: a fine harbor on the eastern coast. A haven is usually a natural harbor that can be utilized by ships as a place of safety; the word is common in literary use: a haven in time of storm; a haven of refuge. A port is a harbor viewed especially in its commercial relations, though it is frequently applied in the meaning of harbor or haven also: a thriving port; any old port in a storm. See cherish.

Example Sentences

Rogue Machine Theatre’s world premiere production of “Adolescent Salvation” takes place in the bedroom of a withdrawn high school girl harboring a dangerous secret.

From Los Angeles Times

Other Gulf leaders — even those harboring lingering reservations about Qatar and its regional policies — presented a united front on Qatar’s behalf.

From Los Angeles Times

Besides its musical offerings, Gothicumbia has developed a reputation for harboring the most inventive Latin goth fashion.

From Los Angeles Times

Both have talked of returning their country to a “great” past and have harbored desires of annexing or dominating other countries.

From Salon

Follow them, Souvanna warns, or risk being thrown into the harbor.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dock 
• inlet 
• pier 
• port 
• road 
• wharf