Castle Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms castle 1 American [kas-uhl, kah-suhl] / ˈkæs əl, ˈkɑ səl /

noun

1. a fortified, usually walled residence, as of a prince or noble in feudal times.

   Synonyms: citadel, fortress

2. the chief and strongest part of the fortifications of a medieval city.

3. a strongly fortified, permanently garrisoned stronghold.

4. a large and stately residence, especially one, with high walls and towers, that imitates the form of a medieval castle.

   Synonyms: château, palace

5. any place providing security and privacy.

   It may be small, but my home is my castle.

6. Chess. the rook.

verb (used with object)

castled, castling

1. to place or enclose in or as in a castle.

2. Chess. to move (the king) in castling.

verb (used without object)

Chess. castled, castling

1. to move the king two squares horizontally and bring the appropriate rook to the square the king has passed over.

2. (of the king) to be moved in this manner.

Castle 2 American [kas-uhl, kah-suhl] / ˈkæs əl, ˈkɑ səl /

noun

1. Irene (Foote), 1893–1969, born in the U.S., and her husband and partner Vernon (Vernon Castle Blythe ), 1887–1918, born in England, U.S. ballroom dancers.

castle British / ˈkɑːsəl /

noun

1. a fortified building or set of buildings, usually permanently garrisoned, as in medieval Europe

2. any fortified place or structure

3. a large magnificent house, esp when the present or former home of a nobleman or prince

4. the citadel and strongest part of the fortifications of a medieval town

5. chess another name for rook 2

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. chess to move (the king) two squares laterally on the first rank and place the nearest rook on the square passed over by the king, either towards the king's side ( castling short ) or the queen's side ( castling long )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• castlelike adjective
• uncastled adjective

Etymology

Origin of castle

before 1000; Middle English, Old English castel < Latin castellum castellum

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"When we discovered this incredible castle - a location that has never hosted a similar festival like this before - we completely fell in love with it."

From BBC

“All we can say is, buddy, what fun we had storming the castle,” Crystal closed his tribute with, referencing a famous line from “The Princess Bride.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“And for us, who had the privilege of working with and knowing him and loving him, all we can say is, ‘Buddy, what fun we had storming the castle,’ ” Crystal said.

From Los Angeles Times

The looming castle complex that watches over the city contains the mark of almost every era since its original construction in the Middle Ages.

From The Wall Street Journal

They seek help at a nearby castle and encounter the eccentric strangers who live there, holding a party.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.