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

Example Sentences

On Wednesday, New York Attorney General Letitia James launched an online portal to collect evidence of ICE activities.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

MI6 has launched its own dedicated portal on the dark web in the hope of attracting new spies online, notably from Russia.

Read more on BBC

The US State Department has removed an online portal for reporting alleged human rights violations by foreign military units supplied with American weapons.

Read more on BBC

New York Attorney General Letitia James launched an online portal to collect evidence of ICE activities following the raid.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Accept the world where your grace and patience open portals of greater intimacy and longevity for your relationship.

Read more on Los Angeles Times