import

(ĭm-pôrt', -pōrt', ĭm'pôrt', -pōrt')

v., -port·ed, -port·ing, -ports.

v.tr.

1. To bring or carry in from an outside source, especially to bring in (goods or materials) from a foreign country for trade or sale.
2. Computer Science. To receive (data) into one program from another.
3. To carry or hold the meaning of; signify: a high inflation rate importing hard times for the consumer.
4. To imply.
5. Archaic. To have importance for.

v.intr.
To be significant. See synonyms at count¹.

n. (ĭm'pôrt', -pōrt')

1. Something imported.
2. The act or occupation of importing goods or materials.
3. Meaning; signification. See synonyms at meaning.
4. Importance; significance: a legal decision of far-reaching import. See synonyms at importance.

[Middle English importen, to convey a meaning, from Medieval Latin importāre and from Old French importer, to cause, both from Latin importāre, to carry in, cause : in-, in; see in-² + portāre, to carry.]

importability im·port'a·bil'i·ty n.
importable im·port'a·ble adj.
importer im·port'er n.

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The noun is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable, and the verb with the stress on the second syllable.

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(1) To convert a file into the format required by the application being used. Many applications are capable of importing a variety of popular formats, converting them into the native format of the application for display, printing or editing. If an application can import a format, it can usually export to the format (convert it back). For example, most word processing programs can import documents created in other word processors. After editing, they can be saved in the native format or saved in (exported to) the document's original format.

Computer-aided design (CAD) and drawing programs are used to manipulate graphics objects in their proprietary, native format. In order to modify an illustration created in another application, it must be imported. After making changes, the drawing can be saved in (exported to) the drawing's original format.

Ripping Is Importing Too

When a music CD is imported into jukebox software such as iTunes and converted to MP3, AAC or some other compressed audio format, it is also called "ripping." Contrast with export. See import filter and ripping.

(2) To scan an image into an application. For example, the import function in Photoshop is used to activate the scanner. In this context, import means to convert the paper image to a digital image.

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1. bring into an economy goods produced outside that economy; also, the goods so introduced.


2. bring into one computer application a file created by another application.
Most word processing, spreadsheet, and graphics applications have import filters for files created in competing programs.

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Next:	Import Quota, Imposition, Impound

verb

1. To have or convey a particular idea: connote, denote, intend, mean¹, signify, spell¹. Idioms: add up to. See meaning.
2. To be of significance or importance: count, matter, signify, weigh. See important/unimportant.

noun

1. That which is signified by a word or expression: acceptation, connotation, denotation, intent, meaning, message, purport, sense, significance, significancy, signification, value. See meaning.
2. The general sense or significance, as of an action or statement: amount, burden², drift, purport, substance, tenor. Idioms: sum and substance, sum total. See meaning.
3. The gist of a specific action or situation: idea, meaning, point, purport, significance, significancy. See meaning.
4. The quality or state of being important: concern, concernment, consequence, importance, moment, significance, significancy, weight, weightiness. See important/unimportant.

n

Definition: significance, weight
Antonyms: insignificance

The transportation of goods into one country and out of another; also, the article imported. The term under the customs laws requires that the goods be brought voluntarily into this country, into the proper port of entry, and with an intent to unload them. If customs officials determine that an article has been imported into the United States, it is assessed a duty under customs laws, unless clear evidence is proved to the contrary. 375 F. Supp. 1360, 1361–1363. To be imported within the scope of the tariff laws, the goods must be from a country subject to our tariff laws and the goods must pass through the custody and control of the customs officials and into the custody and control of the importer. See generally 146 F. 484, 486–487. See export.

importation
the act of transporting goods into a country from a foreign country. 262 U.S. 100. As used in tariff statutes the term means merchandise to which the status of an import has attached. 266 F. Supp.
175 (1967). Compare exportation.

In reference to international trade, these are goods brought into one country from another.

Investopedia Says:
Goods that are made in Japan and sold in the U.S. are imported into the U.S.

Related Links:
The WTO sets the global rules of trade. But what exactly does it do and why do so many oppose it? What Is The World Trade Organization?
Everyone's talking about globalization, but what is it and why do some oppose it? What Is International Trade?
Learn what both the supporters and critics have to say about this growing global trend. The Globalization Debate
Read on to find out who this free-trade agreement helped, and who it hurt. NAFTA's Winners And Losers
Here we look at the biggest economic declines in the U.S. since the Great Depression. A Review Of Past Recessions

For a list of words related to importer, see:

• Employers, Employees, and Business People - importer: person who sells goods made in foreign countries

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See words rhyming with "importer."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Import.

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Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - importere, indføre
v. intr. - betyde, indebære
n. - import, indførsel

Nederlands (Dutch)
importeren, beduiden, van belang zijn, import, belang, strekking

Français (French)
v. tr. - (Comm, gén, Écon) importer (de, en)
v. intr. - importer
n. - (Comm, Écon) importation, produit importé, apport (à), signification (sout), importance

Deutsch (German)
v. - einführen, importieren, bedeuten
n. - Bedeutung, Einfuhr, Import

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - εισάγω (εμπόρευμα κ.λπ.), εννοώ, σημαίνω
n. - έννοια, σημασία, νόημα, σπουδαιότητα, βαρύτητα, (οικον.) εισαγωγή ή εισαγόμενο είδος

Italiano (Italian)
importare, portata, tendenza, importazione

Português (Portuguese)
v. - importar
n. - importação (f), significado (m), importância (f)

Русский (Russian)
импорт, сущность, импортировать, означать

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - importar, interesar, concernir a, implicar
v. intr. - importar, convenir
n. - importancia, significado, sentido, artículo importado, mercancía, importación

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - importera, föra in, innebära
n. - import, importvaror, innebörd, betydelse

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
输入, 含...的意思, 进口, 有关系, 有重要性, 进口货

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 輸入, 含...的意思, 進口
v. intr. - 有關係, 有重要性
n. - 進口貨, 輸入, 進口

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 수입하다, 개입시키다, ~의 뜻을 내포하다
v. intr. - 중요하다
n. - 수입, 의미, 중요성

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 輸入する, 引き入れる, 意味を含む, 意味する
n. - 輸入, 輸入品, 趣旨, 意味, 重要, 重要性

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يستورد (الاسم) مستورد‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮ייבא, רמז, ביטא, יידע, הצביע על‬
v. intr. - ‮התכוון, היה חשוב ל-‬
n. - ‮יבוא, ייבוא, משמעות, כוונה, חשיבות‬

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