porthole

/'pɔ:thoul/

Thân thiện

The sailor looks through the porthole at the ocean.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, usually circular window in the side of a ship or aircraft: A porthole is a sealed window designed to allow light and air into a vessel while being strong enough to withstand pressure and water.
   • An opening in a wall, ship, or armored vehicle for firing a weapon: Historically, a porthole referred to an embrasure or gunport for a cannon.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The cabin was dark, so she opened the porthole to let in some sunlight.
  • Passengers gathered to watch the sunset through the ship's portholes.
  • The old warship's portholes were once used for its cannons.

Advanced Usage

• "To batten down the portholes": To securely close and fasten the portholes on a ship, typically in preparation for bad weather.
  • The captain ordered the crew to batten down the portholes before the storm hit.

Variants and Related Words

• Portlight (n): Another, less common term for a porthole, specifically the glass window itself.
• Scuttle (n): A technical term for a small opening or porthole, often one that can be opened and closed.
• Deadlight (n): A strong, solid cover or shutter used to seal a porthole from the outside for protection.

Synonyms

• Window (specifically on a vessel or aircraft).
• Embrasure (for the historical, military sense of an opening for a gun).
• Aperture (a formal term for an opening).

Related Phrases

• "Porthole view": A view seen through a porthole, often implying a limited or circular perspective.
  • Our stateroom had a porthole view of the ocean.

Related Idioms

• "A porthole on/to the world": A metaphor for a limited viewpoint or a specific window of understanding.
  • For the isolated village, the new library served as a porthole to the wider world.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an opening (in a wall or ship or armored vehicle) for firing through
2. a window in a ship or airplane

Từ đồng nghĩa

• port
• embrasure