castle

¹ American  

[kas-uhl, kah-suhl] / ˈkæs əl, ˈkɑ səl /

noun

1. a fortified, usually walled residence, as of a prince or noble in feudal times.

   Synonyms:

   citadel, fortress

2. the chief and strongest part of the fortifications of a medieval city.

3. a strongly fortified, permanently garrisoned stronghold.

4. a large and stately residence, especially one, with high walls and towers, that imitates the form of a medieval castle.

   Synonyms:

   château, palace

5. any place providing security and privacy.

   It may be small, but my home is my castle.

6. Chess. the rook.

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verb (used with object)

castled, castling

1. to place or enclose in or as in a castle.

2. Chess. to move (the king) in castling.

verb (used without object)

Chess.

castled, castling

1. to move the king two squares horizontally and bring the appropriate rook to the square the king has passed over.

2. (of the king) to be moved in this manner.

Castle ² American  

[kas-uhl, kah-suhl] / ˈkæs əl, ˈkɑ səl /

noun

1. Irene (Foote), 1893–1969, born in the U.S., and her husband and partner Vernon (Vernon Castle Blythe ), 1887–1918, born in England, U.S. ballroom dancers.

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castle British  

/ ˈkɑːsəl /

noun

1. a fortified building or set of buildings, usually permanently garrisoned, as in medieval Europe

2. any fortified place or structure

3. a large magnificent house, esp when the present or former home of a nobleman or prince

4. the citadel and strongest part of the fortifications of a medieval town

5. chess another name for rook 2

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verb

1. chess to move (the king) two squares laterally on the first rank and place the nearest rook on the square passed over by the king, either towards the king's side ( castling short ) or the queen's side ( castling long )

Other Word Forms

• castlelike adjective
• uncastled adjective

Etymology

Origin of castle

before 1000; Middle English, Old English castel < Latin castellum castellum

Example Sentences

Collier, who used to work as a senior Metropolitan Police detective, was banished from the castle shortly after revealing her secret identity to her closest friend in the castle, traitor Rachel Duffy.

From BBC

The identity of the "secret traitor" has been revealed on the latest episode of The Traitors, with Fiona joining Stephen and Rachel in the castle turret.

From BBC

"But it's hard," he said, adding: "You have to keep telling yourself it's a game and when you leave the castle, you go back to your lives after it."

From BBC

She was "just herself" in the castle and soon forgot about being constantly filmed.

From BBC

The Frenchman talked about building castles in the sky.

From BBC