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¹harbor

noun har·bor \ˈhär-bər\

: a part of the ocean, a lake, etc., that is next to land and that is protected and deep enough to provide safety for ships

: a place of safety and comfort

Full Definition of HARBOR

: a place of security and comfort : refuge

: a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to furnish anchorage; especially : one with port facilities

— har·bor·ful \-ˌfu̇l\ noun

— har·bor·less \-ləs\ adjective

See harbor defined for English-language learners

See harbor defined for kids

Origin of HARBOR

Middle English herberge, herberwe, from Old English herebeorg military quarters, from here army (akin to Old High German heri) + beorg refuge; akin to Old English burg fortified town — more at harry, borough

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to HARBOR

Synonyms: anchorage, harborage, haven, port

Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard, stay

Rhymes with HARBOR

arbor, barber

²harbor

verb

: to give shelter to (someone) : to hide and protect (someone)

: to have (something, such as a thought or feeling) in your mind for a long time

: to hold or contain (something)

har·boredhar·bor·ing \-b(ə-)riŋ\

Full Definition of HARBOR

transitive verb

a : to give shelter or refuge to

b : to be the home or habitat of <the ledges still harbor rattlesnakes>; broadly : contain 2

: to hold especially persistently in the mind : cherish <harbored a grudge>

intransitive verb

: to take shelter in or as if in a harbor

: live

— har·bor·er \-bər-ər\ noun

See harbor defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of HARBOR

12th century

Related to HARBOR

Synonyms: bear, cherish, entertain, have, hold, nurse, hang on to, hold on to

HARBOR Defined for Kids

¹harbor

noun har·bor \ˈhär-bər\

Definition of HARBOR for Kids

: a part of a body of water (as a sea or lake) so protected as to be a place of safety for ships : port

: a place of safety and comfort : refuge

²harbor

verb

har·boredhar·bor·ing

Definition of HARBOR for Kids

: to give shelter to <They harbored the escaped prisoner.>

: to have or hold in the mind <For years she harbored the desire to travel.>

Medical Dictionary

harbor

transitive verb har·bor \ˈhär-bər\

Medical Definition of HARBOR

: to contain or be the home, habitat, or host of <those who harbor the gene for the illness—William Booth> <green monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) may have harbored the ancestor of the AIDS virus—R. C. Gallo>