fortress

American  

[fawr-tris] / ˈfɔr trɪs /

noun

1. a large fortified place; a fort or group of forts, often including a town; citadel.

2. any place of exceptional security; stronghold.

---

fortress British  

/ ˈfɔːtrɪs /

noun

1. a large fort or fortified town

2. a place or source of refuge or support

---

verb

1. (tr) to protect with or as if with a fortress

Etymology

Origin of fortress

1300–50; Middle English forteresse < Old French < Vulgar Latin *fortaricia (compare Medieval Latin fortalitia ), equivalent to Latin fort ( is ) strong + -ar-, formative of uncertain meaning +- icia -ice

Example Sentences

Dominating a sandy stretch of Qatar’s northern coast, Ras Laffan is a sprawling industrial fortress of pipes, flare stacks and loading berths built around the world’s largest artificial harbor.

From The Wall Street Journal

I was a Hello Girl and now I am here, a hermit in a boardinghouse, protected by a disheveled fortress of my dirty clothes and empty tins, and Theo knows absolutely nothing.

From Literature

If something gets past Nord’s first layer, this second fortress will stop them in their tracks.

From Salon

In one screen narrating the Battle of Yashima, Minamoto clan cavalry descend through a narrow pass to storm a Taira clan fortress.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It's knockout football and we go into it with confidence. You see the supporters get into the stadium early and Selhurst was rocking tonight and we can make it a fortress."

From BBC

Related Words

• barrier
• citadel
• garrison
• rampart