port

plural ports

1. countableuncountableA place on the coast at which ships can shelter, or dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.

   peering in maps for ports and piers and roads

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

   1 more example

   From the ground, Colombo's port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.

   2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52

   Synonyms: harbour, haven

2. countableuncountableA town or city containing such a place, a port city.

   More broadly, the port is seen as a litmus test for France; if its most multicultural city can foster vast Muslim enclaves viewed with broad suspicion or hostility by the police, then what hope is there elsewhere?

   2023 July 1, Mark Townsend, “‘We are seen as less human’: inside Marseille’s districts abandoned by the police”, in The Observer, →ISSN

   Synonyms: harbour city, harbour town, port city

3. uncountableaeronauticsThe left-hand side of a vessel, including aircraft, when one is facing forward. Used to unambiguously refer to directions relative to the vessel structure, rather than to a person or object on board.

   Synonyms: backboard, larboard, leeboard, left · Antonyms: starboard

4. countableuncountablehobbiesA sweep rower that primarily rows with an oar on the port side.

   Each eight has four ports and four starboards.

1. not comparablenauticalOf or relating to port, the left-hand side of a vessel when facing the bow.

   on the port side

   Synonyms: larboard, backboard, left

present singular third person ports · participle present porting · participle past ported · past ported

1. imperativetransitivenauticalTo turn or put to the left or larboard side of a ship; said of the helm.

   Port your helm!

2. nauticalTo dock at a port.

   The tall ships will port in Pugwash during its annual Harbourfest Celebrations[…]

   2009 March 25, Metro International, Atlantic Free Daily Newspapers Inc., Metro Halifax - March 25, 2009

   2 more examples

   We have to wait until the ship ports, buddy, and then we can get you the help you need.

   2015, M.L. Brummett, Semper Fidelis

   Our cruise ship ported at Mykonos, a small island off the coast of Greece, for an overnight stay.

   2017, Willian R. Stephenson, Conversations: Stories and Poems that Speak to Our Soul

plural ports

1. ScotlandhistoricalAn entryway or gate.

   Him I accuse / The city ports by this hath enter'd

   1623, Shakespeare, Coriolanus, V.vi

   3 more examples

   And whan he cam to the porte of the pavelon, Sir Palomydes seyde an hyghe, ‘Where art thou, Sir Trystram de Lyones?’

   1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, book X

   Long were it to describe the goodly frame, / And stately port of Castle Joyeous […].

   1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.1

   And from their ivory port the Cherubim, / Forth issuing at the accustomed hour

   1667, Milton, Paradise Lost, book IV

2. An opening or doorway in the side of a ship, especially for boarding or loading; an embrasure through which a cannon may be discharged; a porthole.

   […] her ports being within sixteen inches of the water […]

   c. 1615, Sir W. Raleigh, A Discourse of the Invention of Ships, Anchors, Compass […]

3. medicineA small medical appliance installed beneath the skin, connected to a vein by a catheter, and used to inject drugs or to draw blood samples.
4. bowlsball gamesA narrow opening between other players' bowls or stones wide enough for a delivered bowl or stone to pass through.

   Synonyms: wick

5. An opening where a connection (such as with a pipe) is made.
6. An opening with a valve seat such that a valve can control the flow of fluid through the opening.
7. computingA logical or physical construct in and from which data are transferred. Computer port on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
8. computingA female connector of an electronic device, into which a cable's male connector can be inserted.
9. alsocomputingA number that delimits a connection for specific processes or parts of a network service.

present singular third person ports · participle present porting · participle past ported · past ported

1. transitiveTo carry, bear, bring, or transport. See porter.

   A handful of ants meander across each plank, some porting crumblike objects on their back, others apparently just out for a stroll.

   2001, Steven Johnson, “The Myth of the Ant Queen”, in Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software, New York, N.Y.: Scribner, →ISBN, part 1, page 32

   2 more examples

   Dauid in this Pſalme doth exhoꝛt, to pꝛayſe the Loꝛde alwayes: Foꝛ that he did vs make and poꝛt, and guydes vs all our dayes.

   1567 February 8 (Gregorian calendar), John Pits, “The .100. Psalme”, in A Poore Mannes Beneuolence to the Afflicted Church, London: […] Alexander Lacy, signature [B.iv.], recto

   What one may call River or Freſh-water-Coale, digged out in this Country, at ſuch a diſtance from Severne, that they are eaſily ported by Boat into other Shires.

   a. 1662 (date written), Thomas Fuller, “Shrop-shire”, in The History of the Worthies of England, London: […] J[ohn] G[rismond,] W[illiam] L[eybourne] and W[illiam] G[odbid], published 1662, →OCLC, page 1

2. transitivegovernmentTo hold or carry (a weapon) with both hands so that it lies diagonally across the front of the body, with the barrel or similar part near the left shoulder and the right hand grasping the small of the stock; or, to throw (the weapon) into this position on command.

   Port arms!

   1 more example

   […] the angelic squadron...began to hem him round with ported spears.

   1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost, book IV

3. transitivecomputingTo adapt, modify, or recode to work on a different platform.

   By its tenth week of release, CPH was the best-selling PC game in America. PlayStation and Xbox ports were already in the works, and there was talk of porting it to Nintendo.

   2022, Gabrielle Zevin, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Vintage (2023), page 259

4. ergativecommunicationsTo carry or transfer (an existing telephone number) from one service provider to another.

   If you submit a request to port a number, and you list the name on the account as Bob Smith, but your local carrier has the number listed under your wife's name Mary Mahoney, the porting request is rejected.

   2011, Stephen P. Olejniczak, Telecom For Dummies, page 131

5. USgovernmentTo transfer a voucher or subsidy from one jurisdiction to another.

plural ports

1. Something used to carry a thing, especially a frame for wicks in candle-making.
2. archaicThe manner in which a person carries himself; bearing; deportment; carriage. See also portance.

   the necessities of pomp, grandeur, and a suitable port in the world

   a. 1717 (date written), Robert South, “(please specify the sermon number)”, in Five Additional Volumes of Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions. […], volume (please specify |volume=VII to XI), London: […] Charles Bathurst, […], published 1744, →OCLC

   2 more examples

   Those same with stately grace, and princely port / She taught to tread, when she her selfe would grace […]

   1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iii

   For the port, the voice, the smell, the hairdress, were seldom the same, from one day to the next, […]

   1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC

3. governmentThe position of a weapon when ported; a rifle position executed by throwing the weapon diagonally across the front of the body, with the right hand grasping the small of the stock and the barrel sloping upward and crossing the point of the left shoulder.
4. computingA program that has been adapted, modified, or recoded so that it works on a different platform; the act of this adapting.

   Gamers can't wait until a port of the title is released on the new system.

   1 more example

   The latest port of the database software is the worst since we made the changeover.

5. computingA set of files used to build and install a binary executable file from the source code of an application.

plural ports

1. countableuncountableA type of very sweet fortified wine, mostly dark red, traditionally made in Portugal.

   Synonyms: Porto, porto, port wine

plural ports

1. A suitcase or schoolbag.

   No, she just paid up proper-like t' the end of the week, an' orf she went with 'er port, down t' the station, I suppose.

   1964, George Johnston, My Brother Jack

   2 more examples

   As they left the classroom, Jennifer pointed at the shelves lining the veranda. “Put your port in there.” “What?” asked Penny. “Your port - your school bag, silly. It goes in there.”

   2001, Sally de Dear, The House on Pig Island, page 8

   How do you think the cane toads got into this pristine environment? Joseph Midnight brought them in his port from Townsville, smuggled them in, not that anyone was there to stop him.

   2006, Alexis Wright, Carpentaria, Giramondo, published 2012, page 53

plural ports

1. informalThe portfolio of a model or artist or investor.

   This is a logical way to order your work, but use it only if you're confident the first piece in your port is a strong one. Also note that this style of arrangement works best if all the pieces are in the same category.

   2011, Debbie Rose Myers, The Graphic Designer's Guide to Portfolio Design, page 53

1. archaicArchaic form of Porto: a city in Portugal.
2. A surname.

1. University of Portsmouth, used especially following post-nominal letters indicating status as a graduate.

1. abbreviationellipsisinformalAustralian rules footballEllipsis of Port Adelaide Football Club.

1. New South WalesabbreviationellipsisinformalEllipsis of Port Macquarie.

1. Portugal, used on maps to indicate territories or possessions

1. abbreviationgovernmentAbbreviation of Public Order Response Team.