port

1 of 2

verb (1)

ported; porting; ports

transitive verb

: to turn or put (a helm) to the left

—used chiefly as a command

port

2 of 2

verb (2)

ported; porting; ports

transitive verb

: to translate (software) into a version for another computer or operating system

Examples of port in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

State, federal and private crews pulled 50,000 tons of steel and concrete from the shipping channel to reopen it to port traffic. —Bryan P. Sears, Baltimore Sun, 3 June 2026

One Build session encourages the use of agentic AI to port x86 applications to Arm versions of Windows. —Chris Hoffman, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026

The Vast satellite bus—essentially a backbone providing power, propulsion, and navigation for various payloads—will be based largely on technology ported over from the company’s Haven-1 space station, which is due to launch for the first time next year as the world’s first private space station. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026

But some empty Iranian tankers are returning to port to act as floating storage vessels, a sign that the US oil export blockade could soon meaningfully curtail Iranian crude production. —Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (2)

perhaps from port entry 2 (hardware interface)

and Verb (1)

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1580, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1984, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing port

• any port in a storm
• container port
• free port
• home port
• port arms
• port de bras
• port of call
• port of entry
• port-wine stain
• sally port
• treaty port

Rhymes for port

• bort
• corte
• court
• dort
• fort
• mort
• norte
• ort
• porte
• quart
• short
• snort

Kids Definition

port

1 of 5 noun

ˈpōrt 

ˈpȯrt

1

: a place where ships may take shelter from storms

2

: a harbor town or city where ships load or unload cargo

3

: airport

port

2 of 5 noun

1

a

: an opening (as in machinery) for gas, steam, or water to go in or out

b

: a place of entry into a system

2

: porthole sense 1

3

: Jack entry 1 sense 7

port

3 of 5 verb

: to turn (the helm of a ship) to the left

—used chiefly as a command

port

4 of 5 noun

: the left side of a ship or aircraft looking forward

port adjective

port

5 of 5 noun

: a rich sweet wine

Etymology

Noun

Middle English port "a place for ships to be secured," from Old English port and early French port (both, same meaning), from Latin portus (same meaning)

Noun

Middle English porte "gate, an opening in the side of a ship for light or moving cargo in or out," from early French porte "door, gate," from Latin porta "passage, gate" — related to portal

Noun

probably from ¹port "a place for ships to be secured" or ²port "an opening in the side of a ship"; so called because early sailing vessels kept the left side toward the port because the steering mechanism was always on the right side see Word History at starboard

Noun

Oporto, Portugal

Medical Definition

port

noun

ˈpȯrt 

: an opening, passage, or channel through which something can be introduced into the body: as

a

: a small medical device (as of plastic or titanium) that is implanted below the skin, is attached to a catheter typically inserted into a blood vessel, and has a small opening through which a needle can be inserted to administer fluids or drugs or withdraw blood

b

: an incision (as one made between intercostal spaces) for passing a medical instrument (as an endoscope) into the body