port

1
[ pawrt, pohrt ]
See synonyms for port on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. 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.

  2. a geographical area that forms a harbor: the largest port on the eastern seaboard.

  3. Informal. an airport.

Origin of port

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English, from Latin portus “harbor, haven”; akin to ford

synonym study For port

2. See harbor.

Other words for port

Other words from port

  • portless, adjective

Words Nearby port

Other definitions for port (2 of 6)

port2
[ pawrt, pohrt ]

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

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.

Origin of port

2
First recorded in 1570–80; special use of port4

Other definitions for port (3 of 6)

port3
[ pawrt, pohrt ]

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

Origin of port

3
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); see also Oporto l

Other definitions for port (4 of 6)

port4
[ pawrt, pohrt ]

noun
  1. an opening in the side or other exterior part of a ship for admitting air and light or for taking on cargo.: Compare porthole (def. 1).

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

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

  2. Computers.

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

    • 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.

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

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

Origin of port

4
First recorded before 950; Middle English, Old English, from Latin porta “gate”; akin to portus “harbor”; see port1

Other definitions for port (5 of 6)

port5
[ pawrt ]

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 by over): 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.

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.

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

Origin of port

5
First recorded in 1560–70; from French porter, from Latin portāre “to carry”; see fare

Other definitions for Port. (6 of 6)

Port.

abbreviation
  1. Portugal.

  2. Portuguese.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use port in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for port (1 of 8)

port1

/ (pɔːt) /


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

Origin of port

1
Old English, from Latin portus harbour, port

British Dictionary definitions for port (2 of 8)

port2

/ (pɔːt) /


noun
  1. Also called (formerly): larboard

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

    • (as modifier): the port bow Compare starboard (def. 1)

verb
  1. to turn or be turned towards the port

Origin of port

2
C17: origin uncertain

British Dictionary definitions for port (3 of 8)

port3

/ (pɔːt) /


noun
  1. a sweet fortified dessert wine

Origin of port

3
C17: after Oporto, Portugal, from where it came originally

British Dictionary definitions for port (4 of 8)

port4

/ (pɔːt) /


noun
  1. nautical

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

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

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

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

  3. mainly Scot a gate or portal in a town or fortress

Origin of port

4
Old English, from Latin porta gate

British Dictionary definitions for port (5 of 8)

port5

/ (pɔːt) military /


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

noun
  1. this position

Origin of port

5
C14: from Old French, from porter to carry, from Latin portāre

British Dictionary definitions for port (6 of 8)

port6

/ (pɔːt) /


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

Origin of port

6
C20: probably from port 4

British Dictionary definitions for port (7 of 8)

port7

/ (pɔːt) /


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

Origin of port

7
C20: shortened from portmanteau

British Dictionary definitions for Port. (8 of 8)

Port.

abbreviation for
  1. Portugal

  2. Portuguese

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for port

port

[ 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.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with port

port

see any port in a storm.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.