relation; connection, esp. harmonious or sympathetic relation: a teacher trying to establish close rapport with students.
Origin: 1530–40; < F, deriv. of rapporter to bring back, report, equiv. to r(e-) re-+ apporter (OF aporter < L apportāre, equiv. to ap-ap-1+ portāre to carry; see port5)
rap·port (rā-pôr', -pōr', rə-) n. Relationship, especially one of mutual trust or emotional affinity.
[French, from Old French, from raporter, to bring back : re-, re- + aporter, to bring (from Latin apportāre : ad-, ad- + portāre, to carry; see per-2 in Indo-European roots).]
Main Entry: rap·port Pronunciation: ra-'po(&)r, r&- Function: noun 1: relation characterized by harmony, conformity, accord, oraffinity 2: confidence of a subject in the operator (as in hypnotism, psychotherapy, or mental testing) with willingness to cooperate rapport —C. A. H. Watts>