port

¹

[pawrt, pohrt]

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.

port

²

[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.

port

³

[pawrt, pohrt]

noun

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

port

⁴

[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.

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.

port

⁵

[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 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.

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

abbreviation

1. Portugal.

2. Portuguese.

port

¹

/ pɔːt /

noun

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

2. See port of entry

port

²

/ 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

verb

1. to turn or be turned towards the port

port

³

/ pɔːt /

noun

1. a sweet fortified dessert wine

port

⁴

/ 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

port

⁵

/ pɔːt /

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

port

⁶

/ pɔːt /

verb

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

port

⁷

/ pɔːt /

noun

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

Port.

⁸

abbreviation

1. Portugal

2. Portuguese

port

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.

Other Word Forms

• portless adjective

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of port¹

Old English, from Latin portus harbour, port

Origin of port²

C17: origin uncertain

Origin of port³

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

Origin of port⁴

Old English, from Latin porta gate

Origin of port⁵

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

Origin of port⁶

C20: probably from _port ⁴

Origin of port⁷

C20: shortened from _portmanteau

Idioms and Phrases

see any port in a storm.

Synonym Study

See harbor.

Example Sentences

American Commercial Barge Line reports multiple closures along the river this month, and that slate of closures may be constraining how many grain shipments are making it to port cities like New Orleans.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The experimental sail technology, on the rotor ship Buckau, was first demonstrated in 1925 on a journey carrying timber from Danzig - now Gdansk, in Poland - to the Scottish port of Grangemouth.

Read more on BBC

The stated purpose of the US port fees is to address Chinese dominance of the global shipping sector and provide an incentive for building more ships in the United States.

Read more on Barron's

The influx of second-hand clothes has employed hundreds of thousands of people across East Africa, from port handlers to traders, and provided a lot of affordable clothing.

Read more on Barron's

Other unpaid workers also tend to miss more work, which could lead to bottlenecks even in functions of the government that have stayed open, such as customs inspectors at ports.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• harbor 
• seaport 
• wharf