Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » harbor

harbor

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

The definition of a harbor is a place providing shelter or safety or a protected area in the water where boats anchor.

(noun)

An example of harbor is a home for abused women.
An example of harbor is a port where someone can tie up their boat.

Harbor is defined as to hide, protect or cling to.

(verb)

An example of harbor is hiding a person wanted by the police.
An example of harbor is to hold onto the causes of an old family feud.

See harbor in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a place of refuge, safety, etc.; retreat; shelter
a protected inlet, or branch of a sea, lake, etc., where ships can anchor, esp. one with port facilities

Origin: ME herberwe < OE herebeorg (& ON herbergi), lit., army shelter (< here, army + beorg, a shelter), akin to OHG heriberga: see harbinger

transitive verb

to serve as, or provide, a place of protection to; shelter or house; conceal or hide
to be the dwelling place or habitat of
to hold in the mind; cling to: to harbor a grudge

intransitive verb

to take shelter, as in a harbor
to live or exist

Related Forms:

harborer noun
harborless adjective

See harbor in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A sheltered part of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for ships.
A place of shelter; a refuge.

transitive verb har·bored, har·bor·ing, har·bors

To give shelter to: harbor refugees; harbor a fugitive.
To provide a place, home, or habitat for: a basement that harbors a maze of pipes; streams that harbor trout and bass.
To entertain or nourish (a specified thought or feeling): harbor a grudge.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English herberwe

Origin: , probably from Old English herebeorg, lodging; see koro- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: