Castle — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈka-səl/ cas·tle

Meaning & Definition of Castle

Castle (noun)

  1. a large fortified building or set of buildings
  2. a massive or imposing house
  3. a retreat safe against intrusion or invasion

Castle (verb)

  1. to establish in a castle
  2. to move (the chess king) in castling
  3. to move a chess king two squares toward a rook and in the same move the rook to the square next past the king

Castle (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a structure or place from which one can resist attack

    "the implacable attackers placed the castle under a prolonged siege"

    similar: bastion, citadel, fastness, fort, fortification, fortress, hold, redoubt, stronghold
    related: battlement, breastwork, bulwark, earthwork, embattlement, parapet, rampart, bunker, dugout, blockhouse, garrison house, alcazar, casbah

  2. a large impressive residence

    "the mining tycoon built a magnificent castle on the hill overlooking the town"

    similar: château, estate, hacienda, hall, manor, manor house, manse, mansion, palace, villa
    related: showplace, abode, domicile, dwelling, habitation, hearth, home, house, lodging(s), pad, place, housing, nest, quarter(s), residency, roof, great house, country house, countryseat, aerie, penthouse, salon, suite, town house

Related Entry: Rook (noun)

Rook is a different word from Castle. The synonyms below are for rook, not for castle.

  1. a person who is just starting out in a field of activity

    "every year the coaches have to deal with rooks who don't know the rules yet"

    similar: abecedarian, apprentice, babe, beginner, colt, cub, fledgling, freshman, greenhorn, neophyte, newbie, newcomer, novice, novitiate, punk, recruit, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro, virgin
    related: boot, amateur, dabbler, dilettante, learner, student, trainee, candidate, entrant, probationer
    opposite: old hand, old-timer, vet, veteran
    near: expert, master, pro, professional

Related Entry: Castle in Spain (phrase)

Castle in Spain is a different word from Castle. The synonyms below are for castle in Spain, not for castle.

  1. a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality

    "They would spend long evenings in front of the fire, drinking wine and building castles in Spain about their future."

    similar: chimera, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, fantasy, figment, hallucination, illusion, nonentity, phantasm, pipe dream, unreality, vision, castle in the air
    related: ignis fatuus, mirage, will-o'-the-wisp, brainchild, idea, concoction, fable, fabrication, fiction, invention, envisaging, imaging, visualization, cloud-cuckoo-land, cloudland, Shangri-la, utopia, daymare, nightmare
    near: actuality, fact, reality

Related Entry: Castle in the air (phrase)

Castle in the air is a different word from Castle. The synonyms below are for castle in the air, not for castle.

  1. a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality

    "He would work tirelessly to prove to his father that his dreams of becoming a professional painter were more than a castle in the air."

    similar: chimera, conceit, daydream, delusion, dream, fancy, fantasy, figment, hallucination, illusion, nonentity, phantasm, pipe dream, unreality, vision, castle in Spain
    related: ignis fatuus, mirage, will-o'-the-wisp, brainchild, idea, concoction, fable, fabrication, fiction, invention, envisaging, imaging, visualization, cloud-cuckoo-land, cloudland, Shangri-la, utopia, daymare, nightmare
    near: actuality, fact, reality

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Castle

The most common words with a similar meaning to Castle:

bastion, citadel, fastness, fort, fortification, fortress, hold, redoubt, stronghold, château, estate, hacienda, hall, manor, manor house, manse, mansion, palace, villa

Related Words for Castle

battlement, breastwork, bulwark, earthwork, embattlement, parapet, rampart, bunker, dugout, blockhouse, garrison house, alcazar, casbah, showplace, abode, domicile, dwelling, habitation, hearth, home, house, lodging(s), pad, place, housing, nest, quarter(s), residency, roof, great house

Word Forms of Castle

Inflections: castled, castling

Origin & Etymology of Castle

Middle English castel, from Old English, from Old French & Latin; Old French dialect (Norman-Picard) castel, from Latin castellum fortress, diminutive of castrum fortified place; perhaps akin to Latin castrare to castrate

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Castle

Words & Phrases Containing Castle

castle doctrine, castle in the air

Frequently Asked Questions about Castle

What does "Castle" mean?

"Castle" means a large fortified building or set of buildings. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a large fortified building or set of buildings. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Castle"?

Other words for "Castle" include bastion, citadel, fastness, fort, fortification, fortress, hold and redoubt. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Castle" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Castle"?

There are 56 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Castle". Common alternatives include bastion, citadel, fastness, fort, fortification, fortress, hold, redoubt, stronghold and château.

How do you use "Castle" in a sentence?

Examples of "Castle" in a sentence: "the implacable attackers placed the castle under a prolonged siege"; "the mining tycoon built a magnificent castle on the hill overlooking the town".

Is "Castle" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Castle" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Castle" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Castle" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Castle"?

"Castle" is pronounced /ˈka-səl/ and divided into syllables as cas·tle.

What is the origin of the word "Castle"?

"Castle" comes from Middle English castel, from Old English, from Old French & Latin; Old French dialect (Norman-Picard) castel, from Latin castellum fortress, diminutive of castrum fortified place; perhaps akin to Latin castrare to castrate. First known use: before 12th century.