fortification
/ˌfɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌfɔːrtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌfȯr-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən/ (ame, mw)
fortification — noun
- fortificationsingular
- fortificationsplural
1. a wall, tower, or similar structure erected around a city, castle, or military b
a wall, tower, or similar structure erected around a city, castle, or military base to keep attackers out
The ancient city's fortifications included a high stone wall and twelve watchtowers.
often plural for defensive structures
Hassan studied the Roman fortifications that once guarded the empire's northern border.
collocation: fortifications + guard/protect
The old fortification had walls so thick that cannonballs barely left a mark.
Eleni climbed the stone steps of the hilltop fortification to see the valley below.
Modern fortifications use reinforced concrete instead of the old stone and brick.
- stronghold
Emphasises the overall defended place rather than the individual structures built to defend it
- bastion
A projecting part of a fortification; also used more poetically for something that upholds a principle
- bulwark
A defensive wall made of earth or stone; also used in figurative contexts for protection
用法筆記
Often appears in plural form (fortifications) when referring to a system of defensive structures around a single location.
常見錯誤
2. the process of making a place stronger against attack by adding walls, weapons,
the process of making a place stronger against attack by adding walls, weapons, soldiers, or other defences
The fortification of the island took over two years and cost millions of dollars.
pattern: the fortification of [place]
Owen oversaw the fortification of the port after the navy warned of a possible invasion.
pattern: oversee the fortification of [place]
The fortification of the town involved digging ditches and building new steel gates.
Anjali's report on coastal fortification was praised by the defence committee in the capital.
Without proper fortification, the small garrison could not hold out against the advancing army.
- strengthening
A more general term that can apply to any type of reinforcement, not just military
- reinforcement
Often implies adding extra materials or troops to an existing structure
- weakening
The opposite of making something stronger
- dismantlement
Taking apart defences rather than building them up
用法筆記
This sense is uncountable — you cannot say 'a fortification' when referring to the process. For individual results of the process, use sense 1 instead.