fortress

/ˈfɔːtrəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɔːrtrəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfȯr-trəs/ (ame, mw)

fortress — noun

  • fortresssingular
  • fortressesplural

1. a very strong building with thick walls, built so soldiers inside can fight off

1.名詞B2
釋義

a very strong building with thick walls, built so soldiers inside can fight off enemies trying to break in

例句

Putri climbed the steep path to the old stone fortress above the harbour.

pattern: a fortress above/on a [place]

The kingdom built a fortress on the hill to guard the river crossing.

collocation: build a fortress

同義詞
  • stronghold

    very close in meaning; often used more broadly, including a place a group controls firmly, not only a building

  • citadel

    specifically the strongest, often highest, part of a city's defences

  • castle

    a defended residence for a noble or royal family; less purely military than a fortress

文法句型

a fortress on/in [place]

the fortress of [name]

用法筆記

Often used of large, historic, military buildings rather than modern security architecture. Frequently appears with prepositions of location ('on the hill', 'above the harbour') and verbs of attack/defence ('attack', 'defend', 'storm', 'capture').

常見錯誤

❌Our bank built a small fortress for the new vault.
✅Our bank built a strong vault room with thick walls.
💡'fortress' suggests a large military stronghold, not a small secure room inside a building.

2. any place, group, or idea that feels so well protected that nothing harmful or u

2.名詞C1
釋義

any place, group, or idea that feels so well protected that nothing harmful or unwelcome can get inside

例句

After the burglary, Eitan turned his small flat into a fortress of locks and cameras.

figurative: turn [a place] into a fortress

The judge's home is a fortress, with guards posted at every gate.

同義詞
  • stronghold

    shares the figurative use ('a stronghold of tradition'), often a bit more positive in tone

  • haven

    stresses safety and welcome rather than defence against intruders

文法句型

a fortress of [quality]

[something] is a fortress

用法筆記

Figurative extension of sense 1. Often used with abstract nouns ('a fortress of secrecy / silence / privacy') or to describe a heavily guarded home or office. Distinguish from sense 1: here the place need not be a military building.