What does "ports" mean?

1. (harbours for ships) towns or cities with a harbour where ships can stop to load or unload goods. 2. (computer connections) the holes or sockets on a computer where you plug in cables for things like a mouse or a printer. 3. (types of wine) different varieties of a strong, sweet wine that originally comes from Portugal.

ports

US //ˈpɔɹts// UK //pˈɔːts// ports

1 harbours for ships (n.)
A2 Elementary

towns or cities with a harbour where ships can stop to load or unload goods.

Locations on a coast or shore containing one or more harbours where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo.

Example

The cruise ship visited several famous ports during its trip around the Mediterranean.

Example

The government invested heavily in upgrading the nation's deep-water ports to accommodate the new generation of massive container vessels.
2 computer connections (n.)
B1 Intermediate Computing

the holes or sockets on a computer where you plug in cables for things like a mouse or a printer.

Physical or logical connection points through which a computer communicates with external devices or networks.

Example

This laptop has three USB ports for connecting your phone and other devices.

Example

The technician checked the server's physical ports to ensure the network cables were securely seated and transmitting data correctly.
3 types of wine (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

different varieties of a strong, sweet wine that originally comes from Portugal.

Varieties of a fortified wine produced in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal.

Example

The restaurant offers a selection of fine ports to enjoy with dessert.

Example

The sommelier explained the differences between tawny and ruby ports, noting how the aging process affects their final flavour profiles.
- fortified wines

Last updated June 19, 2026