portal

¹

[pawr-tl, pohr-]

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.

portal

²

[pawr-tl, pohr-]

adjective

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

noun

1. portal vein.

portal

/ 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

adjective

1. anatomy

   1. of or relating to a portal vein

      hepatic portal system

   2. of or relating to a porta

portal

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

Other Word Forms

• portaled adjective
• portalled adjective

Word History and Origins

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 portal²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of portal¹

C14: via Old French from Medieval Latin portāle, from Latin porta gate, entrance