fortification

/ˌfɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌfɔːrtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌfȯr-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən/ (ame, mw)

fortification — 名詞

  • fortificationsingular
  • fortificationsplural

1. a wall, tower, or similar structure erected around a city, castle, or military b

1.名詞B2
釋義

防禦工事

用於保護城鎮的堅固建築物

a wall, tower, or similar structure erected around a city, castle, or military base to keep attackers out

例句

The ancient city's fortifications included a high stone wall and twelve watchtowers.

這座古城的防禦工事包括一道高聳的石牆和十二座瞭望塔。

often plural for defensive structures

Hassan studied the Roman fortifications that once guarded the empire's northern border.

Hassan 研究了曾守衛帝國北部邊境的羅馬防禦工事。

collocation: fortifications + guard/protect

同義詞
  • 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

❌The castle had a tall fortification around it.
✅The castle had tall fortifications around it.
💡For a system of walls and towers, the plural form is preferred.

2. the process of making a place stronger against attack by adding walls, weapons,

2.名詞C1
釋義

強化；鞏固

加強防禦的過程或行動

the process of making a place stronger against attack by adding walls, weapons, soldiers, or other defences

例句

The fortification of the island took over two years and cost millions of dollars.

該島的強化工程耗時超過兩年，花費了數百萬美元。

pattern: the fortification of [place]

Owen oversaw the fortification of the port after the navy warned of a possible invasion.

在海軍警告可能發生入侵後，Owen 負責監督港口的防禦強化工作。

pattern: oversee the fortification of [place]

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • 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.

常見錯誤

❌The fortification of the base was a fortification that took six months.
✅The fortification of the base took six months.
💡Do not use the countable form for the process. Use sense 1's plural for the structures.