n.
Pronunciation: im- ' po ̇ rt, ' im- ˌ
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin importare to bring in, cause, signify, from Latin, to bring in, cause, from in- + portare to carry ― more at FARE
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1 a : to bear or convey as meaning or portent : SIGNIFY b archaic : EXPRESS , STATE c : IMPLY
2 : to bring from a foreign or external source: as a : to bring (as merchandise) into a place or country from another country b : to transfer (as files or data) from one format to another usually within a new file
3 archaic : to be of importance to : CONCERN
intransitive verb : to be of consequence : MATTER
– im · port · able \ im- ' po ̇ r-t ə -b ə l, ' im- ˌ \ adjective
– im · port · er noun