Harbor Definition

härbər

harbored, harboring, harbors

noun

harbors

A sheltered part of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for ships.

American Heritage

A place of refuge, safety, etc.; retreat; shelter.

Webster's New World

A protected inlet, or branch of a sea, lake, etc., where ships can anchor, esp. one with port facilities.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

harbored, harboring, harbors

To serve as, or provide, a place of protection to; shelter or house; conceal or hide.

Webster's New World

To take shelter, as in a harbor.

Webster's New World

To be the dwelling place or habitat of.

Webster's New World

To live or exist.

Webster's New World

To entertain or nourish (a specified thought or feeling).

Harbor a grudge.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Harbor

Middle English herberwe, herberge, from Old English herebeorg ‘military quarters, hostelry’, from Proto-Germanic *harjabergō (compare West Frisian herberch ‘inn’, Dutch herberg ‘id.’, German Herberge ‘id.’), compound of *harjaz ‘army’ and *bergō ‘refuge, shelter’, deverbative of *ƀerʒanan ‘to protect, shelter’ (compare Old English beorgan). More at harry and bury.

From Wiktionary
Middle English herberwe probably from Old English herebeorg lodging koro- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition