portland
portland Lexical Profile
portland Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American The largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, known for its eco-friendly urban planning, parks, and bridges.
A widely used type of cement (often written in lowercase) originally formulated in England, serving as the basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, and stucco.
"The contractor ordered a truckload of portland cement to lay the foundation of the new commercial building."
American The most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine, historically significant as a major Atlantic seaport and commercial center in New England.
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the cities in Oregon or Maine, or the Isle of Portland in England, it functions as a proper noun and is capitalized. It is also commonly used uncapitalized in the compound 'portland cement'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named after the Isle of Portland, a limestone peninsula in Dorset, England. The prominent U.S. cities in Maine and Oregon are named directly or indirectly after it, and 'portland cement' was named for its cured resemblance to Portland stone.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.