port

noun \ ˈpȯrt \

1 : a place where ships may ride secure from storms : haven

2 a : a harbor town or city where ships may take on or discharge cargo

b : airport

3 : port of entry

Origin and Etymology of port

Middle English, from Old English & Anglo-French, from Latin portus — more at ford

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First Known Use: before 12th century

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Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard, stay

port

noun

1 chiefly Scotland : gate

2 a : an opening (as in a valve seat or valve face) for intake or exhaust of a fluid

b : the area of opening in a cylinder face of a passageway for the working fluid in an engine; also : such a passageway

c : a small opening in a container or vessel especially for viewing or for the controlled passage of material

access port

3 a : an opening in a vessel's side (as for admitting light or loading cargo)

b archaic : the cover for a porthole

4 : a hole in an armored vehicle or fortification through which guns may be fired

5 : a hardware interface by which a computer is connected to another device (such as a printer, a mouse, or another computer); broadly : jack 4

Origin and Etymology of port

Middle English porte, from Anglo-French, gate, door, from Latin porta passage, gate; akin to Latin portus port

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

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Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard, stay

port

noun

1 : the manner of bearing oneself

2 archaic : state 3

3 : the position in which a military weapon is carried at the command port arms

Origin and Etymology of port

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from porter to carry, from Latin portare

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First Known Use: 14th century

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port

verb

transitive verb

: to turn or put (a helm) to the left —used chiefly as a command

Origin and Etymology of port

⁵port

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1580

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Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard, stay

port

noun

: the left side of a ship or aircraft looking forward — called also larboard; compare starboard

Origin and Etymology of port

probably from ¹port or ²port

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1544

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Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, starboard, stay

port

adjective

: located on the left side of a ship or airplane looking forward : of, relating to, or situated to port

The forward and port staterooms share a head and both feature upper/lower bunks.
—Dex Hart

First Known Use of port

1842

Other Alcoholic Beverage Terms

finish, gimlet, mull, sake, setup, sommelier, syllabub, vintner, wassail

port

noun

: a sweet fortified wine of rich taste and aroma made in Portugal; also : a similar wine made elsewhere

Origin and Etymology of port

Oporto, Portugal

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First Known Use: circa 1626

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port

verb

transitive verb

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

Origin and Etymology of port

perhaps from ²port (hardware interface)

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First Known Use: 1984

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port

abbreviation

1 portable

2 portrait

Port

abbreviation

Portugal

PORT Defined for Kids

port

noun \ ˈpȯrt \

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

Miami is a major United States port.

2 : a place (as a harbor) where ships can find shelter from a storm

port

noun

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

2 : porthole

port

noun

: the left side of a ship or airplane looking forward

Medical Dictionary

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