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port

1
[ pawrt, pohrt ]
/ pɔrt, poʊrt /
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noun
a city, town, or other place where ships load or unload.
a place along a coast in which ships may take refuge from storms; harbor.
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.
a geographical area that forms a harbor: the largest port on the eastern seaboard.
Informal. an airport.
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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 FROM port

portless, adjective

Other definitions for port (2 of 6)

port2
[ pawrt, pohrt ]
/ pɔrt, poʊrt /
noun
the left-hand side of a vessel or aircraft, facing forward.
adjective
pertaining to or designating port.
located on the left side of a vessel or aircraft.
verb (used with or without object)
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 ]
/ pɔrt, poʊrt /
noun
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 ]
/ pɔrt, poʊrt /
noun
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).
Machinery. an aperture in the surface of a cylinder, for the passage of steam, air, water, etc.
a small aperture in an armored vehicle, aircraft, or fortification through which a gun can be fired or a camera directed.
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.
the raised center portion on a bit for horses.
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 ]
/ pɔrt /
verb (used with object)
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.
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
Military. the position of a rifle or other weapon when ported.
Digital Technology, Computers. a version of an existing program, such as a video game, written to run on a different platform or operating system.
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
Portugal.
Portuguese.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to port

harbor, seaport, wharf, anchorage, boatyard, dockage, docks, dockyard, gate, harborage, haven, landing, piers, refuge, retreat, roads, roadstead, sanctuary, shelter

How to use port in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for port (1 of 8)

port1
/ (pɔːt) /
noun
a town or place alongside navigable water with facilities for the loading and unloading of ships
See port of entry

Word Origin for port

Old English, from Latin portus harbour, port

British Dictionary definitions for port (2 of 8)

port2
/ (pɔːt) /
noun
Also called (formerly): larboard
  1. the left side of an aircraft or vessel when facing the nose or bow
  2. (as modifier)the port bow Compare starboard (def. 1)
verb
to turn or be turned towards the port

Word Origin for port

C17: origin uncertain

British Dictionary definitions for port (3 of 8)

port3
/ (pɔːt) /
noun
a sweet fortified dessert wine

Word Origin for port

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

British Dictionary definitions for port (4 of 8)

port4
/ (pɔːt) /
noun
nautical
  1. an opening in the side of a ship, fitted with a watertight door, for access to the holds
  2. See porthole (def. 1)
a small opening in a wall, armoured vehicle, etc, for firing through
an aperture, esp one controlled by a valve, by which fluid enters or leaves the cylinder head of an engine, compressor, etc
electronics a logic circuit for the input and ouput of data
mainly Scot a gate or portal in a town or fortress

Word Origin for port

Old English, from Latin porta gate

British Dictionary definitions for port (5 of 8)

port5
/ (pɔːt) military /
verb
(tr) to carry (a rifle, etc) in a position diagonally across the body with the muzzle near the left shoulder
noun
this position

Word Origin for port

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

British Dictionary definitions for port (6 of 8)

port6
/ (pɔːt) /
verb
(tr) computing to change (programs) from one system to another

Word Origin for port

C20: probably from port 4

British Dictionary definitions for port (7 of 8)

port7
/ (pɔːt) /
noun
Australian (esp in Queensland) a suitcase or school case

Word Origin for port

C20: shortened from portmanteau

British Dictionary definitions for port (8 of 8)

Port.
abbreviation for
Portugal
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 ]
An opening, as in a cylinder or valve face, for the passage of steam or fluid.
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.
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