port

PORT/pɔɹt/PAWT/pɔːt/

Pluralports

Verbports, porting, ported

25 meanings of port

Practice

1
harbornouncountable or uncountable
A place, or a town with a harbor, where ships stop to load and unload goods and people.
Like a parking lot where ships stop instead of cars.
The ship sailed into port just before the storm hit.
Fishing boats crowd the small port every morning.
UsageSay in port or into port, usually with no the.
Similarharbor, seaport
Note
2
cable socketnouncountable
A hole on a computer or device where you plug in a cable to connect something.
Like the hole a plug fits into.
Plug the charger into the port on the side of your laptop.
This phone has only one port for the cable.
UsageYou plug a cable into a port.
Similarsocket, interface
Note
3
adapt softwareverbtransitive
To change a program so it can run on a different device or system.
Like translating a book so people in another country can read it.
The team will port the game to phones next year.
They ported the old software to the new system.
UsageYou port a game to phones.
Similaradapt, convert, migrate
Note
4
nouncountable
A version of a program changed so it runs on a different device. Also, the work of changing it.
Like a copy of a movie made to play on a different machine.
The console port of the game runs smoothly.
Fans waited years for a port of their favorite title.
UsageSay the PC port, or a port of the game.
Similarversion, conversion, adaptation
Note
5
sweet winenouncountable or uncountable
A strong wine from Portugal, usually sweet and red.
Like a sweeter, stronger cousin of ordinary red wine.
We drank a glass of port after dinner.
He poured the rich port into small glasses.
UsageSay a glass of port.
Note
6
network numbernouncountable
A number that tells network traffic which program or service to reach.
Like an apartment number that tells mail which door to reach.
Web servers usually listen on port 80.
You may need to open a port for the game to connect.
UsageSay port 80, and open a port.
7
pipe openingnouncountable
An opening that lets air, gas, or liquid go in or out of a machine or pipe.
Like an opening where a hose screws onto a tap.
Water flows out through a small port at the base of the tank.
Connect the hose to the port on the left.
Similaropening, inlet, outlet, vent, aperture

Less common meanings

8
noununcountable
The left side of a ship or aircraft when you face the front.
Like saying 'left' so everyone on the ship means the same side.
The captain steered the boat to port to avoid the rocks.
We saw three dolphins swimming off to port.
UsageSay to port or off to port. The opposite is starboard.
Similarleft, larboard
Oppositestarboard
Note
9
move phone numberverbtransitive or intransitive
To move your phone number or a benefit to a new company or place without losing it.
Like keeping the same email address after switching to a new provider.
You can port your number to the new carrier for free.
She ported her old number when she switched companies.
UsageYou port your number to a new company.
Similartransfer, move, switch
10
medical implantnouncountable
A small device placed under the skin and joined to a vein, used to give drugs or take blood.
Like a small doorway under the skin that lets doctors reach a vein again and again.
The nurse gave the medicine through the port in his chest.
Her port made the weekly treatments much easier.
11
ship's left sideadjective
Found on or relating to the left side of a ship when you face the front.
Like calling something 'left-hand,' but only for ships.
The crew repaired the port railing after the storm.
A red light marks the port side at night.
UsageSay the port side.
12
reach harborverbintransitive
When a ship ports, it sails into a harbor and stops there.
Like a car pulling into a parking spot, but for ships.
After ten days at sea, our ship ported in Honolulu.
Cruise ships often port here for just one day.
Similardock, berth, moor
Note
13
hull openingnouncountable
An opening in the side of a ship, used for boarding, loading, or firing a cannon.
Like a window or door cut into the side of a ship.
Sailors loaded barrels through the open port in the hull.
Cannons fired from each port along the lower deck.
Similarhatch, opening, porthole
Note
14
carryverbtransitive
To carry or bring something from one place to another.
A handful of ants meander across each plank, some porting crumblike objects on their back, others apparently just out for a stroll.
2001, Steven Johnson, “The Myth of the Ant Queen”Here, porting means carrying.
Dauid in this Pſalme doth exhoꝛt, to pꝛayſe the Loꝛde alwayes: Foꝛ that he did vs make and poꝛt, and guydes vs all our dayes.
1567, John Pits, “The .100. Psalme”Here, port means to carry or bring along.
Similarcarry, convey, transport, haul, lug
Note
15
steer leftverbtransitiveimperative
To turn a ship's helm to the left side.
Like turning a steering wheel to the left to change direction.
The captain told him to port the helm to avoid the rocks.
Port the helm now!
Oppositestarboard
Note
16
nouncountable or uncountable
A rower who pulls an oar on the left side of the boat.
Like a player who always plays on the left side of the field.
Our rowing team needs one more port for Saturday's race.
The coach put her two strongest ports in the middle of the boat.
Oppositestarboard
Note
17
suitcasenounAustraliacountable
A suitcase or a bag for carrying school books and belongings.
Like a bag you fill with your things before a trip.
She packed her port for the weekend trip.
He left his port by the front door.
Similarsuitcase, bag, case, schoolbag
Note
18
cross-carry (gun)verbtransitive
To hold a gun with both hands across the front of your body, tilted to one side.
Like holding a broom slanted across your chest with both hands.
The soldiers ported their rifles as they marched onto the field.
Port your weapon before you start the drill.
Note
19
noun
The slanted position of a gun held across the front of the body with both hands.
Like holding something slanted across your chest, ready to move.
The guard held his rifle at the port as the officer passed.
From the port, he lowered the weapon to his side.
20
nouncolloquialcountable
Short for portfolio: a model's or artist's best work shown to clients, or the investments someone owns.
Like a folder that shows off your best work to get a job.
She updated her port with photos from the latest shoot.
The agency asked to see his port before the casting.
Similarportfolio, book
Note
21
bearingnounarchaic
The way a person stands, moves, and carries himself.
the necessities of pomp, grandeur, and a suitable port in the world
a. 1717 (date written), Robert South, Five Additional Volumes of Sermons Preached upon Several OccasionsHere, port means the way a person carries himself, his bearing.
Note
22
noun
A set of files used to build and install a program from its source code.
23
noundialectalScotland
A gate or entrance, especially in the wall of an old town or castle.
Him I accuse / The city ports by this hath enter'd
1623, Shakespeare, CoriolanusHere, ports means gates or entrances in the city wall.
24
noun
A narrow gap between other players' bowls or stones, wide enough for one to pass through.
25
noun
A device used to carry something, such as a frame that holds wicks when making candles.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of port apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 8, 11–12, 15–16

From Old English port, from Latin portus meaning "harbour." The "left side" meaning probably came because old ships had the steering oar on the right, so they docked with their left side facing the wharf.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Port comes from Old English port, borrowed from Latin portus, meaning harbour. en.wiktionary.org
Early ships had their steering oar on the right. en.wikipedia.org

Meanings 2, 6–7, 10, 13

From Old English port, from Latin porta meaning "gate" or "passage," with support from Old French porte.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Port derives from Old English port. en.wiktionary.org
Old English port derives from Latin porta, meaning gate or passage. en.wiktionary.org
Old French porte reinforced this word. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 3–4, 9, 14, 18–19, 21

It comes from the Old French word porter. That came from the Latin word portāre, which means "to carry."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Port comes from Old French porter. en.wiktionary.org
Old French porter comes from Latin portāre, meaning “to carry.” en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 5

Named after Porto, a city in Portugal where the wine was first shipped from.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

The wine is named after Porto. en.wiktionary.org
Porto is a city in Portugal. en.wiktionary.org
Porto was where the wine was originally shipped from. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 17

A short form of the word portmanteau.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Port is a shortened form of portmanteau. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 20

A short form of the word portfolio.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Port is a short form of portfolio. en.wiktionary.org