Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person employed to carry luggage or supplies: A porter is someone whose job is to carry bags, suitcases, or other loads, especially at hotels, train stations, or airports.
   • A doorkeeper or gatekeeper: A porter is someone who guards or controls the entrance to a building, such as a hotel, hospital, or large apartment building.
   • A type of dark beer: Porter is a very dark, sweet ale brewed from roasted unmalted barley.
   • A railroad attendant: In historical contexts, a porter was a railroad employee who assisted passengers, especially on sleeping cars.

2. Verb:

   • To carry luggage or supplies: To porter means to transport or carry items, typically as a job or service.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Carrier):
  • The hotel porter carried our bags to the room.
  • We hired a porter to help with our equipment on the hiking trail.
• Noun (Doorkeeper):
  • The apartment porter will let you in after hours.
  • He works as a night porter at the hospital.
• Noun (Beer):
  • I'll have a pint of porter, please.
  • This brewery makes a very smooth, chocolatey porter.
• Verb:
  • They had to porter all their water for the three-day trek.
  • The supplies were portered up the mountain by a local team.

Advanced Usage

• "Porter's lodge": A small room or building at the entrance to a college, hospital, or other institution where a porter is stationed.
  • Visitors must check in at the porter's lodge.
• "Baggage porter": Specifically emphasizes the role of carrying luggage.
  • Look for a baggage porter near the taxi stand.

Variants and Related Words

• Portage (n): The act of carrying or transporting, especially boats or goods overland between two bodies of water.
  • The long portage between the lakes was exhausting.
• Porterage (n): The work of a porter; the charge for carrying goods.
  • The porterage fee is included in the bill.

Synonyms

• Noun (Carrier): Bearer, carrier, baggage handler.
• Noun (Doorkeeper): Doorman, gatekeeper, concierge (in some contexts), janitor.
• Noun (Beer): Stout (a similar, often stronger, dark beer).

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Porter" is not commonly used to form phrasal verbs. The verb form is typically used directly.)

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no common idioms specifically centered on the word "porter.")

Noun

1. a very dark sweet ale brewed from roasted unmalted barley
2. a railroad employee who assists passengers (especially on sleeping cars)
3. United States writer of short stories whose pen name was O. Henry (1862-1910)
4. United States composer and lyricist of musical comedies (1891-1946)
5. United States writer of novels and short stories (1890-1980)
6. someone who guards an entrance
7. a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

Verb

1. carry luggage or supplies
   • They portered the food up Mount Kilimanjaro for the tourists