DictionaryAI

fortress

FOR-tris/ˈfoɹ.tɹɪs/UKFAW-truhs/ˈfɔː.tɹəs/

Pluralfortresses

Verbfortresses, fortressing, fortressed

3 meanings of fortress

Practice

  1. 1
    strongholdnouncountable
    A large, strong place built to keep people safe from attack, like a castle, or any well-protected place.

    The soldiers stayed inside the fortress until the enemy left.

    After the break-in, they turned their house into a fortress with locks on every door.

    Similarstronghold, fort, citadel, castle, fortification

    Note
  2. 2
    defendverbtransitive
    To build a fortress to protect a place, or to make something safe from attack.

    The king's men worked all summer to fortress the hill above the river.

    Big stone walls fortress the old part of the city.

    Similarfortify, protect, guard, shield, defend

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 3
    noun
    A position that, if obtained by the weaker side, will prevent penetration by the opposing side, generally achieving a draw.

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Origin

It comes from the Old French word forteresse, meaning "a strong place." That word goes back to the Latin word fortis, meaning "strong."