I. ˈhärbər, ˈhȧbə(r noun
( -s )
Usage: see -or, often attributive
Etymology: Middle English herberge, herberwe, herber, harborowe; akin to Old High German & Old Saxon heriberga army encampment, hostelry, Middle Low German herberge hostelry, Old Norse herbergi; all from a prehistoric West Germanic-North Germanic compound whose components are akin respectively to Old High German heri army and to Old High German bergan to shelter, hide — more at harry , bury
1.
a. : a place of security and comfort : haven , asylum , refuge , shelter
the … Loyalists found harbor in the same areas — W.G.Hardy
a very harbor from the raging streets — Charles Dickens
the beauty and the harbor of a snug house — Meridel Le Sueur
b. : the resting place or lair of a wild animal (as a deer)
2.
a. : a small bay or other sheltered part of a considerable body of water usually well protected either naturally or artificially (as by jetties) against high waves and strong currents and deep enough to furnish anchorage for ships or other craft ; especially : such a place in which port facilities are provided
Halifax harbor
a yacht harbor
b. : inlet
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Otago Harbor, N.Z.
Grays Harbor, Wash.
Charlotte Harbor, Fla.
Little Egg Harbor, N.J.
Synonyms:
haven , port : harbor applies to a part of a body of water (as a sea or lake) partially or almost totally enclosed so that ships or boats entering it may be protected when they are moored, and by extension applies to any place of protection
the boat arrived safely in the harbor by nightfall
two promontories of land forming a natural harbor
find a harbor until the financial panic had passed
haven , now chiefly literary except in names, adds to harbor the idea of refuge or place of peace
a blessed haven into which convoys could slip from the submarine-infested Atlantic — Stewart Beach
the colony acquired an unsavory reputation for providing a friendly haven for pirates — American Guide Series: Rhode Island
leave for a while their own crowded homes and find a calm cozy haven where they can talk without interruption — Ernest & Pearl Beaglehole
an excellent haven for game birds and deer — American Guide Series: Minnesota
port signifies a place, usually both harbor and adjacent town or city, suitable for landing men or goods, and by extension applies to a destination or goal
transatlantic steamers docked in the port of New York
the home port of steamers formerly navigating the waters of the lake — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
steamboat ports on the Columbia — Dayton Kohler
unload a damaged ship at the first available port
II. verb
( harbored ; harbored ; harboring -b(ə)riŋ ; harbors )
Usage: see -or
Etymology: Middle English herbergen, herberwen, herberen, harborowen, from herberge, herberwe, herber, harborowe, n.
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to give shelter or refuge to : take in
benefited by harboring and absorbing displaced European psychiatrists — Lauretta Bender
harbored white renegades and strays from hostile tribes — American Guide Series: Tennessee
return of Greek children harbored in other countries — Americana Annual
(2) : to receive clandestinely and conceal (a fugitive from justice)
(3) : to have (an animal) in one's keeping
may not harbor a dog without a permit
b.
(1) : to be the home or habitat of : contain
the pool normally harbors several large trout — Alexander MacDonald
her home … had harbored her family for four generations — Current Biography
this structure harbors a mirror and bookrest — New Yorker
the … buildings harbor a maze of ducts and pipes — Lewis Mumford
caves which … certainly harbor bats — Thomas Barbour
the same county that harbors the depressing cotton towns — L.D.Stamp
(2) : to be the host of (a parasite)
one of the pigs harbored … kidney worms — J.E.Alicata
c. : to track (an animal) to lair or hiding place
2. : cherish , entertain
harbor thoughts
harbor feelings
harbor a deep resentment against the U.S. — Winifred Raushenbush
any power which might harbor aggressive designs — C.A.Fisher
harbored a mistrust of expressed emotion — Stewart Cockburn
3. : to place (a ship) for shelter
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to find or take shelter : be present
it was quite thinkable that dreadful heresies might harbor there — G.W.Johnson
b.
(1) of an animal : to rest or hide away especially habitually
fierce boars harbored in the dense wood
(2) : live
parasites that harbor in the blood
2. : to take shelter or come to anchor in a harbor
3. : to conceal a fugitive from justice
you can be shot for harboring, she thought — Ion Braby