# port

Pronunciation: US say "PORT" /pɔɹt/; UK/AUS say "PAWT" /pɔːt/

## Noun

1. A place on a coast, river, or lake where ships dock to load and unload, or the town or city that has such a harbor; also an official point of entry to a country.
   - Simple: A place, or a town with a harbor, where ships stop to load and unload goods and people.
   - _Cargo vessels from across the world dock at this port._
   - _The town's busy port handles thousands of containers each day._
2. A socket or interface on a computer or electronic device through which data passes, usually by plugging in a cable.
   - Simple: A hole on a computer or device where you plug in a cable to connect something.
   - _The monitor connects to the graphics card through a video port._
   - _Each port on the back panel accepts a different connector._
4. A program that has been adapted to run on a different platform, or the act of adapting it.
   - Simple: A version of a program changed so it runs on a different device. Also, the work of changing it.
   - _The Linux port finally fixed the graphics bugs._
   - _Critics praised the mobile port for keeping the original controls._
5. A strong fortified wine from Portugal, usually sweet and dark red, though white and drier styles are also made.
   - Simple: A strong wine from Portugal, usually sweet and red.
   - _She served a vintage port with the cheese course._
   - _The cellar held dozens of bottles of aged port._
6. In computer networking, a number assigned to a connection to identify the specific process or network service it belongs to.
   - Simple: A number that tells network traffic which program or service to reach.
   - _The firewall blocks every port except the ones the service needs._
   - _Secure web traffic travels over port 443._
8. The left-hand side of a vessel, including aircraft, when facing the front.
   - Simple: The left side of a ship or aircraft when you face the front.
   - _All passengers were told to move to port as the ship listed._
   - _The whale surfaced just off to port, and everyone on deck rushed to look._
7. An opening through which a fluid or gas passes or a connection is made, as in an engine cylinder, pipe, or speaker cabinet, sometimes controlled by a valve.
   - Simple: An opening that lets air, gas, or liquid go in or out of a machine or pipe.
   - _Exhaust gases escape through a port in the cylinder wall._
   - _The pump has a separate port for each incoming pipe._
10. A small medical device implanted beneath the skin and connected to a vein by a catheter, used to inject drugs or draw blood samples.
   - Simple: A small device placed under the skin and joined to a vein, used to give drugs or take blood.
   - _The surgeon implanted a port to simplify her chemotherapy._
   - _Blood was drawn from the port instead of her arm._
13. An opening or doorway in the side of a ship, used for boarding or loading, for firing a cannon, or as a porthole.
   - Simple: An opening in the side of a ship, used for boarding, loading, or firing a cannon.
   - _The gun crew ran the cannon out through the port before firing._
   - _Crates were hauled aboard through a wide cargo port near the waterline._
16. A sweep rower who primarily pulls a single oar on the port, or left, side of the boat.
   - Simple: A rower who pulls an oar on the left side of the boat.
   - _As a port, he spent years perfecting his stroke on the left side._
   - _The crew needed a strong port to balance the boat._
17. A suitcase or schoolbag carried to hold one's belongings. *(Australia)*
   - Simple: A suitcase or a bag for carrying school books and belongings.
   - _She heaved her port onto the luggage rack._
   - _The kids dropped their ports in the hallway after school._
19. The diagonal position of a weapon held across the front of the body, with the barrel sloping upward and crossing the left shoulder.
   - Simple: The slanted position of a gun held across the front of the body with both hands.
   - _The soldiers snapped their rifles to the port in a single motion._
   - _At the port, the barrel crosses diagonally over the left shoulder._
20. Short for portfolio: the samples of work a model or artist shows to attract clients and bookings, or the set of investments a person holds. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Short for portfolio: a model's or artist's best work shown to clients, or the investments someone owns.
   - _Her port landed her a major campaign._
   - _He keeps a digital port with his strongest images._

## Verb

3. To adapt or rewrite a program so that it works on a different platform.
   - Simple: To change a program so it can run on a different device or system.
   - _Developers ported the engine to consoles within six months._
   - _It took years to port the application to a mobile platform._
9. To transfer something such as a phone number or a housing voucher from one provider or jurisdiction to another.
   - Simple: To move your phone number or a benefit to a new company or place without losing it.
   - _Customers can port their numbers without losing service._
   - _He ported the business line to a cheaper provider last month._
12. Of a ship, to come into a harbor and dock there.
   - Simple: When a ship ports, it sails into a harbor and stops there.
   - _The fleet ported in Lisbon to take on supplies._
   - _Large tankers can port only at deep-water terminals._
14. To carry, bear, bring, or transport something from one place to another.
   - Simple: To carry or bring something from one place to another.
15. To turn or put the helm to the left, or larboard, side of a ship.
   - Simple: To turn a ship's helm to the left side.
   - _The mate ordered the steersman to port the helm as the channel narrowed._
   - _They ported the helm hard to swing the bow away from the reef._
18. To hold or carry a weapon with both hands so that it lies diagonally across the front of the body, the barrel near the left shoulder.
   - Simple: To hold a gun with both hands across the front of your body, tilted to one side.
   - _On command, the recruits ported their rifles across their chests._
   - _He learned to port the musket smoothly during inspection._

## Adjective

11. Relating to or located on the left-hand side of a vessel when facing the bow.
   - Simple: Found on or relating to the left side of a ship when you face the front.
   - _The port lifeboats were lowered first during the drill._
   - _Passengers crowded the port rail to watch the coastline slip past._

## Noun

21. The manner in which a person carries himself: bearing, deportment, and overall carriage. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: The way a person stands, moves, and carries himself.

## Other meanings

- (noun) A set of files used to build and install a runnable program from the source code of an application.
- (noun) An entryway or gate, especially one set into the defensive wall of a town or fortress.
- (noun) In bowls or curling, a narrow gap between bowls or stones already in play that leaves room for a delivered one to slip through.
- (noun) A device used to carry something, especially a frame that holds the wicks during candle-making.

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 8, 11–12, 15–16** — From Old English port, borrowed from Latin portus ("port, harbour"), and ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European noun *pértus ("crossing"), making it a distant relative of ford. The directional sense, seen since at least the 1500s, comes from ancient vessels having the steering oar on the right, so they had to moor with their left sides facing the dock.
**Meanings 2, 6–7, 10, 13** — The word has been in English since Old English, which took port from Latin porta, meaning a passage or gate. Old French porte strengthened it. Port and porta are doublets.
**Meanings 3–4, 9, 14, 18–19, 21** — Latin portāre ("carry") gave Old French porter, the source of this word. Transport and portable are related.
**Meaning 5** — Porto, a Portuguese city, is where these wines were first shipped from, and the name comes from it.
**Meaning 17** — A clipping of portmanteau.
**Meaning 20** — A clipping of portfolio.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/port (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).