castle
noun
a fortified, usually walled residence, as of a prince or noble in feudal times.
castle
1 American
[kas-uhl, kah-suhl]
/ ˈkæs əl, ˈkɑ səl /
noun
-
castles
plural
-
a fortified, usually walled residence, as of a prince or noble in feudal times.
-
the chief and strongest part of the fortifications of a medieval city.
-
a strongly fortified, permanently garrisoned stronghold.
-
a large and stately residence, especially one, with high walls and towers, that imitates the form of a medieval castle.
-
any place providing security and privacy.
It may be small, but my home is my castle.
-
Chess. the rook.
verb (used with object)
-
castles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
castled,
past participle, past
-
castling
present participle
-
to place or enclose in or as in a castle.
-
Chess. to move (the king) in castling.
verb (used without object)
Chess.
-
castles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
castled,
past participle, past
-
castling
present participle
-
to move the king two squares horizontally and bring the appropriate rook to the square the king has passed over.
-
(of the king) to be moved in this manner.
Castle
2
American
[kas-uhl, kah-suhl]
/ ˈkæs əl, ˈkɑ səl /
noun
castle
British
/ ˈkɑːsəl /
noun
-
a fortified building or set of buildings, usually permanently garrisoned, as in medieval Europe
-
any fortified place or structure
-
a large magnificent house, esp when the present or former home of a nobleman or prince
-
the citadel and strongest part of the fortifications of a medieval town
-
chess another name for rook 2
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
castlesimple
-
castlessimple
-
have castledperfect
-
has castledperfect
-
am castlingprogressive
-
are castlingprogressive
-
is castlingprogressive
-
have been castlingperfect progressive
-
has been castlingperfect progressive
Past
-
castledsimple
-
had castledperfect
-
was castlingprogressive
-
were castlingprogressive
-
had been castlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of castle
before 1000; Middle English, Old English castel < Latin castellum castellum
Explanation
A castle is a huge, grand home where a king or queen might live. Almost all castles are also fortified against attacks by enemy armies. Most castles were built in the Middle Ages by royalty or other nobility. You can still visit many historic castles in Europe, most of them built of stone and including details like towers and guardhouses. You can also call the chess piece known as a "rook" a castle, for its castle-like shape. The word has an Old English root, castel, or "village."
Vocabulary lists containing castle
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
If bloodsuckers are your fear, you’d be better off in a dank castle in Transylvania.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Back in the castle, Rob Beckett had adopted a new policy.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
But as this year's first vote got under way, the writing was on the castle wall.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
A lush cactus garden is bordered by Elysian Park, completing Fisher’s vision of the castle in the woods, but done in Southern California’s vernacular.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
At the very back of the castle, the dragon’s tail stuck straight into the air, with the end of the tail forming yet another tower, this one with a lit window at its peak.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
They said they were looking for "a new gym to try out" and decided to go along to Castle After Dark, a new alcohol-free student event at a city centre gym.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Crown Castle jumped almost 16%, American Tower added more than 9% and SBA Communications rose 7%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
SpaceX’s wireless deal boosts shares of cell tower companies like Crown Castle and American Tower.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
For example, shares of Crown Castle have fallen almost 60% over five years.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
How I would love to stay in the library at Craig Castle with them all night.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
The list also includes five castles in south Lebanon's Jabal Amel area, among them the Crusader-era Beaufort fortress, which Israeli forces captured in May.
From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026
Overlooking the River Blackwater, the main house was designed by architects James and George Richard Pain, who also worked on other Irish castles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
Forests, he reasoned, don’t uproot and storm castles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
The Normans built hundreds of castles which secured their control and projected royal power.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
They were like medieval kings and queens in their moated castles, wanting to lift the drawbridge and shut out every possible threat.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Moondra castled Samson with his first ball in international cricket, while Hollard took two balls to induce Kishan into skying a chance.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
Despite the stakes and the opponent, Lee does not appear intimidated — she sacrifices a pawn as Black on Move 4 and forces Krush to weather a nasty-looking kingside pawn storm of her castled king.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 28, 2023
As “Cleanness” moves forward, as if in a game of chess, positions are castled.
From New York Times ● Jan. 13, 2020
Slowly things seemed to be turning Carlsen’s way; the kings were castled on opposite sides of the board, which often means each player will be racing to attack the other’s king.
From Slate ● Nov. 28, 2018
As it turned out, the old man never castled.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
It looks at first as if Nepo will have trouble finding a place for his king, but it turns out to be perfectly safe after castling long.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 11, 2023
She saved the best for last, castling Kate Cross with another beauty: full and turning just enough to beat the edge as the batter aimed a shot through the leg side.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2022
In his new book, “Languages of Truth: Essays 2003-2020,” Rushdie attempts to perform a defensive castling move.
From New York Times ● May 24, 2021
Broad hoops an inswinging yorker at Smith, nearly castling him.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 17, 2019
R-K1ch K-B1 Black forfeits his chance of castling, not a great loss under the circumstances.
From Chess Strategy by J. Du Mont
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