port

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈpɔːrt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/pɔrt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(pôrt, pōrt)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
port1 /pɔrt/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. a city or town where ships load or unload.
  2. a place where ships may take refuge from storms;
    harbor.

port2 /pɔrt/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. Nautical, Naval Termsthe left-hand side of a vessel or aircraft, facing forward:"Turn hard to port, helmsman,'' the captain ordered.

adj. 
  1. Nautical, Naval Termsof, relating to, or located on the left side of a vessel or aircraft:"Engines afire on the port wing,'' he radioed.

port3 /pɔrt/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. Winea very sweet, usually dark red wine, originally from Portugal.

port4 /pɔrt/USA pronunciation  n. [countable]
  1. Nautical, Naval Termsan opening in the side or other exterior part of a ship for admitting air and light or for taking on cargo.
  2. a small opening in an armored vehicle, aircraft, or fort through which a gun can be fired or a camera directed.
  3. Computinga data connection in a computer to which an outside (peripheral) device can be attached:Hook up the printer to your parallel port.

-port-, root. 
    1. -port- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "carry;
      bring.'' This meaning is found in such words as: comport, deport, export, import, importance, important, opportune, opportunity, portable, portage, porter, portfolio, portmanteau, purport, rapport, report, support, transport, transportation.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
port1  (pôrt, pōrt),USA pronunciation n. 
  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.
  3. LawAlso called port of entry. 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 Termsan airport.
  • Latin portus harbor, haven; akin to ford
  • Middle English, Old English bef. 900
portless, adj. 
    • 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged anchorage. See harbor. 

port2  (pôrt, pōrt),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Nautical, Naval Termsthe left-hand side of a vessel or aircraft, facing forward.

adj. 
  1. Nautical, Naval Termspertaining to or designating port.
  2. Nautical, Naval Termslocated on the left side of a vessel or aircraft.

v.t., v.i. 
  1. Nautical, Naval Termsto turn or shift to the port, or left, side.
  • special use of port4 1570–80

port3  (pôrt, pōrt),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Wineany of a class of very sweet wines, mostly dark-red, originally from Portugal.
  • Portuguese Oporto Oporto, the main port of shipment for the wines of Portugal
  • earlier Oporto, (Port) O Port 1695–95

port4  (pôrt, pōrt),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Nautical, Naval Termsan opening in the side or other exterior part of a ship for admitting air and light or for taking on cargo. Cf. porthole (def. 1).
  2. Mechanical Engineering[Mach.]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. Computinga data connection in a computer to which a peripheral device or a transmission line from a remote terminal can be attached.
  5. the raised center portion on a bit for horses.
  6. [Chiefly Scot.]a gate or portal, as to a town or fortress.

v.t. 
  1. Computingto create a new version of (an application program) to run on a different hardware platform (sometimes fol. by over).
  • Latin porta gate; akin to portus port1
  • Middle English, Old English bef. 950

port5  (pôrt, pōrt),USA pronunciation v.t. 
  1. Militaryto 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.

n. 
  1. Militarythe position of a rifle or other weapon when ported.
  2. [Archaic.]manner of bearing oneself;
    carriage or deportment.
  • Latin portāre to carry; see fare
  • French porter
  • 1560–70

Port., 
    1. Place NamesPortugal.
    2. Portuguese.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
port / pɔːt/
  1. a town or place alongside navigable water with facilities for the loading and unloading of ships
  2. See port of entry
Etymology: Old English, from Latin portus harbour, port
port / pɔːt/
  1. Also called (formerly): larboard the left side of an aircraft or vessel when facing the nose or bow
  2. (as modifier)
    Compare starboard1
  1. to turn or be turned towards the port
Etymology: 17th Century: origin uncertain
port / pɔːt/
  1. a sweet fortified dessert wine
Etymology: 17th Century: after Oporto, Portugal, from where it came originally
port / pɔːt/
  1. an opening in the side of a ship, fitted with a watertight door, for access to the holds
  2. See porthole1
  3. a small opening in a wall, armoured vehicle, etc, for firing through
  4. an aperture, esp one controlled by a valve, by which fluid enters or leaves the cylinder head of an engine, compressor, etc
  5. a logic circuit for the input and output of data
  6. a gate or portal in a town or fortress
Etymology: Old English, from Latin porta gate
port / pɔːt/
  1. (transitive) to carry (a rifle, etc) in a position diagonally across the body with the muzzle near the left shoulder
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French, from porter to carry, from Latin portāre
port / pɔːt/
  1. (esp in Queensland) a suitcase or schoolbag
Etymology: 20th Century: shortened from portmanteau
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Port.
  1. Portugal
  2. Portuguese
'port' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: the port authority, [seized, rejected, questioned, discovered] by the port authority, port [moorings, fees, maintenance, cleaning], more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "port" in the title:


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