Import - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Import :  (noun)
1: commodities (goods or services) bought from a foreign country [syn: importation] [ant: export]
2: an imported person brought from a foreign country; "the lead role was played by an import from Sweden"; "they are descendants of indentured importees" [syn: importee]
3: the message that is intended or expressed or signified; "what is the meaning of this sentence"; "the significance of a red traffic light"; "the signification of Chinese characters"; "the import of his announcement was ambigtuous" [syn: meaning, significance, signification]
4: a meaning that is not expressly stated but can be inferred; "the significance of his remark became clear only later"; "the expectation was spread both by word and by implication" [syn: significance, implication]
5: having important effects or influence; "decisions of great consequence are made by the president himself"; "virtue is of more moment that security" [syn: consequence, moment] [ant: inconsequence] (verb)
1: bring in from abroad [ant: export]
2: indicate or signify; "I'm afraid this spells trouble!" [syn: spell]

Based on WordNet 2.0

Import : \Im*port"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imported; p. pr. & vb. n. Importing.] [L. importare to bring in, to occasion, to cause; pref. im- in _ portare to bear. Sense 3 comes through F. importer, from the Latin. See Port demeanor.] 1. To bring in from abroad; to introduce from without; especially, to bring (wares or merchandise) into a place or country from a foreign country, in the transactions of commerce; -- opposed to export. We import teas from China, coffee from Brasil, etc.

2. To carry or include, as meaning or intention; to imply; to signify.

Every petition . . . doth . . . always import a multitude of speakers together. --Hooker.

3. To be of importance or consequence to; to have a bearing on; to concern.

I have a motion much imports your good. --Shak.

If I endure it, what imports it you? --Dryden.

Syn: To denote; mean; sighify; imply; indicate; betoken; interest; concern.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Import : \Im*port"\, v. i. To signify; to purport; to be of moment. ``For that . . . importeth to the work.'' --Bacon.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Import : \Im"port\, n. 1. Merchandise imported, or brought into a country from without its boundaries; -- generally in the plural, opposed to exports.

I take the imports from, and not the exports to, these conquests, as the measure of these advantages which we derived from them. --Burke.

2. That which a word, phrase, or document contains as its signification or intention or interpretation of a word, action, event, and the like.

3. Importance; weight; consequence.

Most serious design, and the great import. --Shak.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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