import

Etymology 1

From Middle English importen, from Old French emporter, importer, from Latin importō (“bring in from abroad, import”, verb), from in (“in, at, on; into”) + portō (“I carry, bear; convey”).

noun

1. (countable) Something brought in from an exterior source, especially for sale or trade.
2. (uncountable) The practice of importing.
3. (uncountable) Significance, importance.
   It was a matter of great import.
4. (countable, Philippines) A foreigner playing in a sports league.

verb

1. (transitive) To bring (something) in from a foreign country, especially for sale or trade.
2. (transitive) To load a file into a software application from another version or system.
   How can I import files from older versions of this application?

Etymology 2

From Italian importare, and French importer, from Latin importō.

verb

1. (intransitive) To be important; to be significant; to be of consequence.
   See how much it importeth to learn to take Time by the Fore-Top. 1661, Thomas Salusbury, (Please provide the book title or journal name)
2. (transitive) To be of importance to (someone or something).
   This Letter is mistooke: it importeth none here: It is writ to laquenetta. 1593, Shakespeare, Love's Labour's Lost
3. (transitive) To be incumbent on (someone to do something).
   It imports us to get all the aid and assistance we can. 1762, David Hume, The History of England
4. (transitive) To be important or crucial to (that something happen).
   It much imports your house That all should be made clear. 1819, Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Cenci
5. (transitive) To mean, signify.
6. (transitive, archaic) To express, to imply.