castle
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a large building with high, thick walls built long ago to protect people against enemies.
n.a large, fortified residence or compound, typically dating from the medieval period, designed to withstand siege and house nobility.
Simple“The king lived in a stone castle on top of the hill to see enemies coming.”
In context“The medieval castle featured a deep moat and thick curtain walls designed to repel prolonged sieges by rival lords.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a chess piece that looks like a small tower.
n.a common informal name for the rook, a chess piece that moves in straight lines.
Simple“He moved his castle across the board to put the king in danger.”
In context“The beginner mistakenly referred to the rook as a castle throughout the entire tournament match.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to move your king and a tower piece at the same time in a special chess move.
v.to execute a special move in chess involving the king and either rook to improve king safety.
Simple“It is usually a good idea to castle early in the game to keep your king safe.”
In context“The grandmaster decided to castle kingside to consolidate his defensive position before launching a counter-attack.”
UsageThe verb is usually intransitive and follows specific rules regarding previous moves and check.