noun

porthole

PAWT-hohl

Porthole (noun) means a small round window set into the side of a ship. Example: “She watched the waves through the cabin porthole.”

noun

A small round window set into the side of a ship.

"She watched the waves through the cabin porthole."

Historically, an opening in a ship's hull for firing a cannon through.

"The old warship's portholes once held rows of cannons."

How to use porthole

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe small round window in the side of a ship.

Common pairings

look out the porthole cabin porthole

portholes plural

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Can you complete this real example?

She watched the waves through the cabin _____.

From "port" (an opening) plus "hole."

port embrasure

left port harbour harbor marina sherry embrasure

ole hole vole mole sole pole cole dole role stole whole Poole

What does “porthole” mean?

The word “porthole” means a small round window set into the side of a ship. In plain terms, the small round window in the side of a ship.

How do you pronounce “porthole”?

“Porthole” is pronounced PAWT-hohl (/ˈpɔː(ɹ)t.həʊl/ in IPA).

How do you use “porthole” in a sentence?

Here is “porthole” used in a sentence: “She watched the waves through the cabin porthole.”

What part of speech is “porthole”?

“Porthole” is a noun.

How many meanings does “porthole” have?

“Porthole” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small round window set into the side of a ship.

left port harbour harbor marina sherry embrasure