fort
English meaning: Fort
Definition
A fortified defensive structure stationed with troops.
Example
“Soldiers defended the fort against repeated attacks.”
Another example: “Can you hold the fort at the office while I'm at the conference?”
Usage — When, Where & How
A fortified military structure ('hold the fort', 'Fort Knox'); often part of place names. Everyday in the idiom 'hold the fort' (look after things while someone is away). Neutral to historical register.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'fortis' 'strong', via Old French 'fort'; in English from the 15th century.
Synonyms
- fortress
- stronghold
- citadel
- garrison
- bastion
Related Words
- sill
- laramie
- bragg
- fortification
- meade
- worth
- wayne
- bliss
- pitt
- knox
Common Collocations
- hold the fort
- build a fort
- abandoned fort
- fort wall
- frontier fort
Word Forms
fort (n); forts; fortify (v); fortification (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B