A borough of south-central England on an inlet of the English Channel opposite the Isle of Wight. Founded on the site of Roman and Saxon settlements, it has long been a major port, especially for passenger ships. Population: 234,000.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.