port
pawt
Port (noun) means a town or harbour where ships load, unload, or shelter. Example: “Fishing boats crowded the little port, waiting for the storm to pass.”
noun
1
A town or harbour where ships load, unload, or shelter.
"Fishing boats crowded the little port, waiting for the storm to pass."
"Many goods from overseas arrive at the port before travelling inland by lorry."
"The ship docked at the port early in the morning."
2
The left-hand side of a ship or aircraft when facing forward.
"From the cabin window, we could see the lighthouse on the port side."
"The pilot said we would see the mountains out of the port windows."
"The captain ordered the crew to turn hard to port."
3
A socket on a computer or device where a cable or peripheral connects.
"My laptop has only one port, so I need an adapter."
"The cable would not fit because the port was blocked with dust."
"Plug the charger into the USB port on the side."
4
A strong, sweet, fortified red wine traditionally made in Portugal.
"He poured a small glass of port to go with the cheese."
"Grandad keeps a bottle of port for special family dinners."
"They finished the meal with a glass of port."
verb
1
To adapt software so it runs on a different platform or system.
"It took the team weeks to port the old program to a new system."
"We plan to port our app to phones next year."
"The developers spent months porting the game to consoles."
How to use port
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA harbour town, the left side of a ship, a connection socket on a device, the act of adapting software to another system, or a sweet fortified wine.
Common mistake
Remember "port" (left) and "starboard" (right) are fixed relative to the ship's bow, not to where you happen to be standing.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
home port
USB port
port the software
glass of port
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Word forms
- Plural
- ports
- Third person singular
- ports
- Past tense
- ported
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Fishing boats crowded the little _____, waiting for the storm to pass.
Etymology
From Old English port, borrowed from Latin portus ("harbour"). The "left side of a ship" sense arose because old vessels steered with an oar on the right and so had to dock on their left side.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for port
See all rhymes for port →Frequently asked questions
What does “port” mean?
The word “port” means a town or harbour where ships load, unload, or shelter. In plain terms, a harbour town, the left side of a ship, a connection socket on a device, the act of adapting software to another system, or a sweet fortified wine.
How do you pronounce “port”?
“Port” is pronounced pawt (/pɔɹt/ in IPA).
How do you use “port” in a sentence?
Here is “port” used in a sentence: “The ship docked at the port early in the morning.”
What is the opposite of “port”?
The opposite of “port” — its antonyms — is starboard.
What part of speech is “port”?
Depending on how it is used, “port” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “port” come from?
The word “port” comes from Latin. From Old English port, borrowed from Latin portus ("harbour"). The "left side of a ship" sense arose because old vessels steered with an oar on the right and so had to dock on their left side.
Is “port” a common word?
“Port” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “port” have?
“Port” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a town or harbour where ships load, unload, or shelter.
What is the difference between port and starboard?
These describe the two sides of a ship rather than a harbour. Facing the front, or bow, port is the left-hand side and starboard is the right. Fixed terms like these prevent confusion because they never change with the direction a crew member happens to be looking. Port is easy to recall — like 'left', it is the shorter word.
What is the difference between a port and a harbour?
A harbour is a sheltered stretch of water where ships can anchor safely. A port is the wider facility — usually a town with docks, cranes, and terminals — built around a harbour so vessels can load and unload cargo or passengers. Every port has a harbour, but not every harbour is a port.
What are the different types of ports?
Ports are often grouped by what they handle. Seaports sit on the coast, while inland ports lie on rivers or canals. Others are named for their main role, such as fishing ports, cargo or container ports, cruise ports for passengers, and naval ports used by military fleets.
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