harbor

¹har·bor

noun \ˈhär-bər\

Definition of HARBOR

1

: a place of security and comfort : refuge

2

: 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

Examples of HARBOR

1. <the tanker stayed in Boston harbor three days to undergo repairs>
2. <seeking a harbor from the drenching rain, we unfortunately chose a bank where a robbery was taking place>

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

Related Words: basin, dock, marina, moorage, mooring; arm, bay, bight, cove, creek [chiefly British], embayment, estuary, firth, fjord (also fiord), gulf, inlet, lagoon, loch [Scottish], lough [chiefly Irish], narrow, roads, roadstead; canal, channel, sound, strait; containerport, home port, seaport

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Nautical Terms

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

Rhymes with HARBOR

arbor, barber