I. ˈpȯr-t ə l noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin portale city gate, porch, from neuter of portalis of a gate, from Latin porta gate — more at port
Date: 14th century
1. : door , entrance ; especially : a grand or imposing one
2. : the whole architectural composition surrounding and including the doorways and porches of a church
3. : the approach or entrance to a bridge or tunnel
4. : a communicating part or area of an organism ; specifically : the point at which something (as a pathogen) enters the body
5. : a site serving as a guide or point of entry to the World Wide Web and usually including a search engine or a collection of links to other sites arranged especially by topic
II. adjective
Etymology: New Latin porta transverse fissure of the liver, from Latin, gate
Date: 1845
1. : of or relating to the transverse fissure on the underside of the liver where most of the vessels enter
2. : of, relating to, or being a portal vein or a portal system
portal circulation