A fort is a strong building or a place with a wall or fence around it where soldiers can stay and be safe from the enemy.
Synonyms: fortress, keep, station, camp More Synonyms of fort
2.
See to hold the fort
fort in British English
(fɔːt)
noun
1.
a fortified enclosure, building, or position able to be defended against an enemy
2. hold the fort
Word origin
C15: from Old French, from fort (adj) strong, from Latin fortis
fort in American English1
(fɔrt)
noun
1.
an enclosed place or fortified building for military defense, equipped as with earthworks, guns, etc.
2. US
a permanent army post, as distinguished from a temporary camp
Idioms:
hold the fort
Word origin
ME forte, orig. adj., strong < L fortis < OL forctus < IE base *bhereĝh-, high, elevated > Sans bṁhati, (it) strengthens, elevates, OHG berg, hill
fort in American English2
1.
fortification
2.
fortified
More idioms containing
fort
hold down the fort
Examples of 'fort' in a sentence
fort
Verdict: A solid man to hold the fort.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There is some evidence to suggest this may be the oldest fort on the island.
Brennan, J. H. A Guide to Megalithic Ireland (1992)
She slept the first night in an old fort where other charity workers were housed.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Look east from the circle to find a ring fort.
Brennan, J. H. A Guide to Megalithic Ireland (1992)
Where did you build your forts?
The Sun (2013)
On other islands there are ruins and old forts to clamber over and all manner of cruises and ferries to get you there.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The walls of the fort consist of limestone blocks, some up to five feet in length.
Brennan, J. H. A Guide to Megalithic Ireland (1992)
We were just 1,000 yards from the fort and within enemy range.
The Sun (2008)
Twenty-four of the Antwerp forts were still holding out today in face of a continuous bombardment.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He has just been holding the fort since February and has not been under much pressure.
The Sun (2006)
There is a second, smaller ring fort to the north.
Brennan, J. H. A Guide to Megalithic Ireland (1992)
There are close on 500 ring forts.
Brennan, J. H. A Guide to Megalithic Ireland (1992)
Then turn left and follow the path up to the Roman wall and fort with the crags below to your right.
Begg, Ean & Rich, Deike On the Trail of Merlin - a guide to the Celtic mystery tradition (1991)
You can scarcely avoid finding something of interest archaeologists have recorded close on 400 ring forts of earth and stone in this comparatively small area.
Brennan, J. H. A Guide to Megalithic Ireland (1992)
His church stands within a Roman fort's walls.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The last stage, to the top of the hill and the fort, is extremely steep.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Or does he hold, and trust the Spaniard to hold the fort?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Some 400 yards further on, you will find a large ring fort.
Brennan, J. H. A Guide to Megalithic Ireland (1992)
Its role in mammals like ourselves, in fact, is merely to hold the fort until another kind of immune activity kicks in.
Dylan Evans PLACEBO: The Belief Effect (2003)
I have been holding the fort all week and the least I expected was one night out.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
fort
British English: fort /fɔːt/ NOUN
A fort is a strong building that is used as a military base.
American English: fort
Arabic: حِصْن
Brazilian Portuguese: forte
Chinese: 堡垒
Croatian: utvrda
Czech: pevnost
Danish: fort
Dutch: fort
European Spanish: fuerte
Finnish: linnake
French: fort château
German: Festung
Greek: φρούριο
Italian: forte fortezza
Japanese: 砦
Korean: 요새
Norwegian: fort
Polish: fort
European Portuguese: forte
Romanian: fort
Russian: форт
Latin American Spanish: fuerte
Swedish: fort befästningsverk
Thai: ป้อม
Turkish: kale
Ukrainian: форт
Vietnamese: thành trì
All related terms of 'fort'
Fort Knox
a military reservation in N Kentucky : site of the US Gold Bullion Depository . Pop: 12 377 (2000)
Fort Lamy
the capital of Chad , in the southwest , at the confluence of the Shari and Logone Rivers: trading centre for livestock . Pop: 1 260 146 (2015 est)
Fort Smith
city in NW Ark ., on the Arkansas River: pop. 80,000
Fort Sumter
a fort in SE South Carolina , guarding Charleston Harbour . Its capture by Confederate forces (1861) was the first action of the Civil War
Fort Wayne
a city in NE Indiana . Pop: 219 495 (2003 est)
Fort Worth
a city in N Texas , at the junction of the Clear and West forks of the Trinity River: aircraft works, electronics . Pop: 585 122 (2003 est)
Fort Collins
city in N Colo., north of Denver : pop. 119,000
Fort McHenry
fort in Baltimore harbor, Md., where the British were repulsed in 1814
Fort William
a town in W Scotland, in Highland at the head of Loch Linnhe : tourist centre; the fort itself, built in 1655 and renamed after William III in 1690, was demolished in 1866. Pop: 9908 (2001)
Fort Lauderdale
a city in SE Florida , on the Atlantic . Pop: 162 917 (2003 est)
Fort-de-France
the capital of Martinique , a port on the W coast : commercial centre of the French Antilles. Pop: 91 249 (2007)
hold the fort
to maintain or guard something temporarily
to hold the fort
If you hold the fort for someone, or, in American English , if you hold down the fort , you look after things for them while they are somewhere else or are busy doing something else.
hold down the fort
to look after things for someone while they are somewhere else or while they are busy doing something else
Chinese translation of 'fort'
fort
(fɔːt)
n(c)
堡垒(壘) (bǎolěi) (个(個), gè)
to hold the fort or (US) hold down the fort (fig) 暂(暫)时(時)代人维(維)持现(現)状(狀) (zànshí dài rén wéichí xiànzhuàng)
(noun)
Definition
a fortified building or position
Soldiers inside the fort are under sustained attack.
Synonyms
fortress
a 13th-century fortress
keep
the parts of the keep open to visitors
station
camp
tower
troops occupied the first two floors of the tower
castle
They were given a guided tour of the medieval castle.
garrison
The approaches to the garrison have been heavily mined.
stronghold
The seat was a stronghold of the Labour Party.
citadel
The citadel at Besançon towered above the river.
fortification
troops stationed just behind the fortification
redoubt
fastness
blockhouse
fortified pa (New Zealand)
idiom
See hold the fort
Additional synonyms
in the sense of castle
Definition
a large fortified building or set of buildings, often built as a residence for a ruler or nobleman in medieval Europe
They were given a guided tour of the medieval castle.
Synonyms
fortress,
keep,
palace,
tower,
peel,
chateau,
stronghold,
citadel,
fastness,
donjon
in the sense of citadel
Definition
a fortress in a city
The citadel at Besançon towered above the river.
Synonyms
fortress,
keep,
tower,
stronghold,
bastion,
fortification,
fastness
in the sense of fortification
troops stationed just behind the fortification
Synonyms
defence,
keep,
protection,
castle,
fort,
fortress,
stronghold,
bastion,
citadel,
bulwark,
fastness,
fortified pa (New Zealand)
Synonyms of 'fort'
fort
Explore 'fort' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of garrison
Definition
the place itself
The approaches to the garrison have been heavily mined.
Synonyms
fort,
fortress,
camp,
base,
post,
station,
stronghold,
fortification,
encampment,
fortified pa (New Zealand)
in the sense of keep
Definition
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
the parts of the keep open to visitors
Synonyms
tower,
castle,
stronghold,
dungeon,
citadel,
fastness,
donjon
in the sense of stronghold
Definition
a place that is well defended
The seat was a stronghold of the Labour Party.
Synonyms
bastion,
fortress,
bulwark,
fastness
in the sense of tower
Definition
a tall, usually square or circular structure, sometimes part of a larger building and usually built for a specific purpose