fort

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English

n. a permanent military station or army base.

n. a permanent army post or military installation, common in American English place names.

“He was sent to Fort Bragg for his basic training.”

“The expansion of the local fort brought thousands of new families to the area, stimulating the regional economy through increased demand for housing.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Archaic

n. a historical place in North America where people met to trade goods.

n. an outlying trading station, particularly in the context of colonial British North America and the fur trade.

“The explorers reached the remote fort to trade furs for supplies.”

“Historical records from the fort indicate that the winter of 1784 was particularly harsh, nearly depleting the settlement's grain reserves.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a small house or shelter children build out of blankets and chairs.

n. a temporary structure improvised from household items like furniture and bedding for recreational play.

“The kids built a fort in the living room using all the sofa cushions.”

“On rainy afternoons, the children would construct elaborate forts in the basement, complete with secret entrances and blanket roofs.”

C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary

v. to build walls or defenses around a place.

v. to construct fortifications or establish a strong point for defense.

“The settlers worked quickly to fort the camp before nightfall.”

“The general ordered his men to fort the ridge, knowing the high ground was their only hope against the advancing cavalry.”