Porch vs. Portal

(architecture) A covered and enclosed entrance to a building, whether taken from the interior, and forming a sort of vestibule within the main wall, or projecting without and with a separate roof.

A portico; a covered walk.

A covered and inclosed entrance to a building, whether taken from the interior, and forming a sort of vestibule within the main wall, or projecting without and with a separate roof. Sometimes the porch is large enough to serve as a covered walk. See also Carriage porch, under Carriage, and Loggia.

Example: ‘The graceless Helen in the porch I spiedOf Vesta's temple.’;

A portico; a covered walk.

Example: ‘Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find find us.’;

a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance

A porch (from Old French porche, from Latin porticus , from porta ) is a room or gallery located in front of an entrance of a building. A porch is placed in front of the facade of a building it commands, and forms a low front.

Example: ‘colonnade’; ‘passage’;

An entrance, entry point, or means of entry.

Example: ‘The local library, a portal of knowledge.’;

(Internet) A website or page that acts as an entrance to other websites or pages on the Internet.

Example: ‘The new medical portal has dozens of topical categories containing links to hundreds of sites.’;

(anatomy) A short vein that carries blood into the liver.

(fiction) A magical or technological doorway leading to another location, period in time or dimension.

(architecture) A lesser gate, where there are two of different dimensions.

(architecture) Formerly, a small square corner in a room separated from the rest of an apartment by wainscoting, forming a short passage to another apartment.

A grandiose and often lavish entrance.

(bridge-building) The space, at one end, between opposite trusses when these are terminated by inclined braces.

A prayer book or breviary; a portass.

(anatomy) Of or relating to a porta, especially the porta of the liver.

Example: ‘the portal vein’;

A door or gate; hence, a way of entrance or exit, especially one that is grand and imposing.

Example: ‘Thick with sparkling orient gemsThe portal shone.’; ‘From out the fiery portal of the east.’;

The lesser gate, where there are two of different dimensions.

The space, at one end, between opposite trusses when these are terminated by inclined braces.

A prayer book or breviary; a portass.

Of or pertaining to a porta, especially the porta of the liver; as, the portal vein, which enters the liver at the porta, and divides into capillaries after the manner of an artery.

a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically);

Example: ‘the portals of the cathedral’; ‘the portals of heaven’; ‘the portals of success’;

a site that the owner positions as an entrance to other sites on the internet;

Example: ‘a portal typically has search engines and free email and chat rooms etc.’;

a short vein that carries blood into the liver

a doorway, gate, or other entrance, especially a large and imposing one.

a website or web page providing access or links to other sites

Example: ‘many healthcare providers already utilize portals through which a patient can access test results’;

relating to an opening in an organ through which major blood vessels pass, especially the transverse fissure of the liver.