fortress
n. · v.-
1 a safe place (n.) C1 Advanced Literarya place or situation where you feel safe and protected from outside influence.
a metaphorical place of security or isolation that is difficult for outsiders to enter or influence.
ExampleThe remote island became a fortress of solitude for the tired writer.
ExampleThe billionaire's estate was a digital and physical fortress, designed to ensure absolute privacy from the prying eyes of the media.
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2 chess defense (n.) C2 Proficiency Technicala position in a game like chess that is impossible for the opponent to break through.
an endgame drawing technique where the side with a material disadvantage sets up a defensive perimeter that the opponent cannot penetrate.
ExampleEven though he had fewer pieces, he managed to build a fortress and get a draw.
ExampleThe grandmaster demonstrated how to establish a fortress in the corner, effectively nullifying the opponent's extra bishop and securing half a point.
- defensive setup
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3 to protect with forts (v.) C2 Proficiency Archaic Literaryto build walls or strong buildings around a place to protect it.
to furnish a location with fortresses or defensive works. This transitive use is less common than the noun form.
ExampleThe king decided to fortress the border to stop the coming invasion.
ExampleThe ancient engineers sought to fortress the mountain pass, erecting stone ramparts that would endure for centuries.
Early 14 c., from Old French forteresce, forteresse, forterece (“strong place, fortification”), variant of fortelesse, from Medieval Latin fortalitia, from Latin fortis (“strong”) (see fort) + -itia, added to adjectives to form nouns of quality or condition. French -ess, from Latin -itia is also in words such as duress, prowess, largesse and richesse. For change of medial -l- to -r- in Old French, compare orne (“elm”) from ulmus; chartre from cartula and chapitre from capitulum. First attested in the 12th century.