noun
Common
portal
PAWTL
Portal (noun) means a grand or notable entrance or doorway. Example: “Visitors entered the palace through a grand stone portal flanked by two lions.”
noun
1
A grand or notable entrance or doorway.
"Visitors entered the palace through a grand stone portal flanked by two lions."
"A carved wooden portal marked the entrance to the old monastery."
"The cathedral's portal was covered in carved stone figures."
2
A website that serves as a gateway to other online resources, services, or accounts.
"Employees can book holiday through the staff portal on the company intranet."
"The travel portal lets you compare flights and manage your bookings in one place."
"Log into the student portal to check your grades."
3
In fiction, a magical or futuristic opening that instantly connects two distant places or times.
"In the story, the children stepped through a glowing portal into a distant future."
"The game's hero uses a portal to jump between two faraway worlds."
"The wizard opened a portal to another realm."
How to use portal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA grand entrance, an online gateway site, or (in fiction) a magical doorway between places.
Common pairings
online portal
customer portal
open a portal
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Word forms
- Plural
- portals
- Third person singular
- portals
- Past tense
- portaled, portalled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Visitors entered the palace through a grand stone _____ flanked by two lions.
Etymology
From Old French portal and Medieval Latin portale, from Latin porta ("gate, door").
Related words
Rhymes for portal
See all rhymes for portal →Frequently asked questions
What does “portal” mean?
The word “portal” means a grand or notable entrance or doorway. In plain terms, a grand entrance, an online gateway site, or (in fiction) a magical doorway between places.
How do you pronounce “portal”?
“Portal” is pronounced PAWTL (/ˈpɔːɹtl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “portal” in a sentence?
Here is “portal” used in a sentence: “The cathedral's portal was covered in carved stone figures.”
What part of speech is “portal”?
“Portal” is a noun.
Where does the word “portal” come from?
The word “portal” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French portal and Medieval Latin portale, from Latin porta ("gate, door").
Is “portal” a common word?
“Portal” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “portal” have?
“Portal” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a grand or notable entrance or doorway.
What is the difference between a "portal" and an ordinary "door" or "doorway"?
A portal is a grand or notable entrance, so the word carries more weight than plain "door" or "doorway". It is the natural choice for the imposing entrance of a cathedral or castle, and it sounds formal or literary if used for everyday doors.
What is a portal in fantasy and science fiction?
In fiction, a portal is a magical or futuristic opening that instantly connects two distant places or times. Characters step through a portal to cross between worlds in an instant — a device so common that stories built around it are often called "portal fantasy".
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