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.
to place or enclose in or as in a castle.
Chess. to move (the king) in castling.
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.
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
before 1000; Middle English, Old English castel < Latin castellum castellum
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."
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The Europeans made plans to meet again, this time on Feb. 12, in a Belgian castle built by the Knights Templar, for a discussion Costa slated under “a new geoeconomic context.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Celebrity outlet TMZ said that the lavish decor will include a replica castle built inside Madison Square Garden.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Sources told TMZ that the celebration would include a castle constructed inside the arena, and video released by the outlet shows a “giant white staircase” being “craned” into the venue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
"They see the beautiful bridge, that links England and Wales, and walk half way to take a selfie with the castle behind."
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
The wind and rain were dissolving the road as if it were a sand castle.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
Castle said that, while he might criticize some of the government agency’s numbers or methodologies, he believes in the importance of the USDA, saying it’s “still the envy of the world in this sector.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
Actually, this weekend we all went to the Magic Castle together, too.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
Their California 101 travels began in early 2024 with a trip to Paso Robles, where they saw the green slopes along Highway 46, Morro Rock and the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas near Hearst Castle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
It no doubt keeps the brains behind many of these events awake at night as they work tirelessly to thrive – or, as Nene Valley's Castle says, to "just survive".
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
It made me think instantly of eating supper with the Craig Castle Irregulars the first time I went there.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
His mum, Gemma McConnell, said he had the time of his life enjoying lemonade and cake and playing in the bouncy castles in his own superhero outfit.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
No, that’s not me building castles in the sky.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
When gunpowder arrived and the emerging nation-states rendered obsolete the old art of war dominated by feudal lords entrenched in their castles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026
"I invent things, you can't stop me," he told the France 3 channel in 2019 while showcasing another of his castles, the medieval chateau d'Excideuil in southwest France.
From Barron's ● Feb. 16, 2026
She’d win, and serve the king, and then vanish into nothing, and think no more of castles or kings or assassins.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
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
We pick up this Berlin Ruy Lopez from today’s diagram, where Black has just castled long.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 10, 2020
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
Kf1 Qf6, the loss of castling is not a huge blow to White’s position, but Khamrakulov fails to appreciate the dangers lurking in the position.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 29, 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
Anatoly Karpov, the former world champion, was captured on video castling queen's side illegally, moving the rook before the king.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 22, 2013
I am the beggar Christ— Christ that calmed the castling flood!
From The Mountainy Singer by MacCathmhaoil, Seosamh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
