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Definition of ports - 11 dictionary results

port

1  [pawrt, pohrt]
Use ports in a Sentence
–noun
1. a city, town, or other place where ships load or unload.
2. a place along a coast in which ships may take refuge from storms; harbor.
3. Also called port of entry. Law. any place where persons and merchandise are allowed to pass, by water or land, into and out of a country and where customs officers are stationed to inspect or appraise imported goods.
4. a geographical area that forms a harbor: the largest port on the eastern seaboard.
5. Informal. an airport.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE < L portus harbor, haven; akin to ford

Related forms:
portless, adjective

Synonyms:
2. anchorage. See harbor.

port

2  [pawrt, pohrt]
–noun
1. the left-hand side of a vessel or aircraft, facing forward.
–adjective
2. pertaining to or designating port.
3. located on the left side of a vessel or aircraft.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
4. to turn or shift to the port, or left, side.
Origin:
1570–80; special use of port 4

port

3  [pawrt, pohrt]
–noun
any of a class of very sweet wines, mostly dark-red, originally from Portugal.
Origin:
1695–95; earlier Oporto, (Port) O Port < Pg Oporto Oporto, the main port of shipment for the wines of Portugal

port

4  [pawrt, pohrt]
–noun
1. an opening in the side or other exterior part of a ship for admitting air and light or for taking on cargo. Compare porthole (def. 1).
2. Machinery. an aperture in the surface of a cylinder, for the passage of steam, air, water, etc.
3. a small aperture in an armored vehicle, aircraft, or fortification through which a gun can be fired or a camera directed.
4. Computers. a data connection in a computer to which a peripheral device or a transmission line from a remote terminal can be attached.
5. the raised center portion on a bit for horses.
6. Chiefly Scot. a gate or portal, as to a town or fortress.
–verb (used with object)
7. Computers. to create a new version of (an application program) to run on a different hardware platform (sometimes fol. by over).
Origin:
bef. 950; ME, OE < L porta gate; akin to portus port 1

port

5  [pawrt, pohrt]
–verb (used with object)
1. Military. to carry (a rifle or other weapon) with both hands, in a slanting direction across the front of the body, with the barrel or like part near the left shoulder.
–noun
2. Military. the position of a rifle or other weapon when ported.
3. Archaic. manner of bearing oneself; carriage or deportment.
Origin:
1560–70; < F porter < L portāre to carry; see fare
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ports
port 1   (pôrt, pōrt)   
n.  
  1. Abbr. Pt.
    1. A place on a waterway with facilities for loading and unloading ships.
    2. A city or town on a waterway with such facilities.
    3. The waterfront district of a city.
  2. A place along a coast that gives ships and boats protection from storms and rough water; a harbor.
  3. A port of entry.

[Middle English, from Old English, from Latin portus; see per-2 in Indo-European roots.]
port 2   (pôrt, pōrt)   
n.  The left-hand side of a ship or aircraft facing forward. Also called larboard.
adj.  Of, relating to, or on the port.
tr. & intr.v.   port·ed, port·ing, ports
To turn (a craft) or make a shift to the port side: port the helm; ported sharply to avoid a shoal.

[Probably from port side, from port1.]
port 3   (pôrt, pōrt)   
n.  
  1. Nautical
    1. An opening in a ship's side providing access to the interior.
    2. A porthole.
    3. Archaic A cover for a porthole.
    4. An entrance to or exit from a data network.
    5. A connection point for a peripheral device.
  2. An opening, as in a cylinder or valve face, for the passage of steam or fluid.
  3. A hole in an armored vehicle or a fortified structure for viewing or for firing weapons.
    1. An entrance to or exit from a data network.
    2. A connection point for a peripheral device.
  5. Scots A gateway or portal, as to a town.
tr.v.   port·ed, port·ing, ports
Computer Science To modify (software) for use on a different machine or platform.

[Middle English, gate, porthole, from Old French porte, gate, from Latin porta; see per-2 in Indo-European roots.]
port 4 also Port   (pôrt, pōrt)   
n.  A rich sweet fortified wine.

[After Oporto.]
port 5   (pôrt, pōrt)   
tr.v.   port·ed, port·ing, ports
To hold or carry (a weapon) diagonally across the body, with the muzzle or blade near the left shoulder.
n.  
  1. The position of a rifle or other weapon when ported.
  2. The manner in which one carries oneself; bearing.

[French porter, to carry, from Old French, from Latin portāre; see per-2 in Indo-European roots. N., Middle English porte, from Old French port, from porter, to carry.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
port   (pôrt)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. An opening, as in a cylinder or valve face, for the passage of steam or fluid.
  2. A place where data can pass into or out of a central processing unit, computer, or peripheral. With central processing units, a port is a fixed set of connections for incoming and outgoing data or instructions. With computers and peripherals, a port is generally a socket into which a connector can be plugged.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : ports
Spanish: hornada; lote,
German: die Menge,
Japanese: 一群
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