castle
KAH-suhl
Castle (noun) means a large fortified building, historically home to a king or noble, built to withstand attack. Example: “Tourists climbed the hill to see the medieval castle.”
noun
1
A large fortified building, historically home to a king or noble, built to withstand attack.
"Tourists climbed the hill to see the medieval castle."
"The castle walls were over three metres thick."
"Children ran along the old castle walls and imagined they were knights."
2
In chess, a rook, the piece shaped like a tower.
"She moved her castle across the board to threaten his king."
"He took my castle with his bishop, and I was furious."
"A castle can move any number of squares in a straight line."
verb
1
In chess, to make a special move where the king and a rook swap positions under certain conditions.
"He castled early to get his king to safety."
"You cannot castle if your king has already moved earlier in the game."
"I decided to castle on the kingside to protect my king."
How to use castle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA grand fortified building from history, or (in chess) the rook piece and the move that repositions it with the king.
Common mistake
In chess, "castle" as a verb refers to the special king-and-rook move, not simply moving the rook piece on its own.
Common pairings
a medieval castle
castle walls
castle on the queenside
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Word forms
- Plural
- castles
- Third person singular
- castles
- Past tense
- castled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Tourists climbed the hill to see the medieval _____.
Etymology
From Old English castel, borrowed from Latin castellum, "small fort" — itself a diminutive of castrum, "fort or camp."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for castle
See all rhymes for castle →Frequently asked questions
What does “castle” mean?
The word “castle” means a large fortified building, historically home to a king or noble, built to withstand attack. In plain terms, a grand fortified building from history, or (in chess) the rook piece and the move that repositions it with the king.
How do you pronounce “castle”?
“Castle” is pronounced KAH-suhl (/ˈkɑːsəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “castle” in a sentence?
Here is “castle” used in a sentence: “Tourists climbed the hill to see the medieval castle.”
What part of speech is “castle”?
Depending on how it is used, “castle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “castle” come from?
The word “castle” comes from Latin. From Old English castel, borrowed from Latin castellum, "small fort" — itself a diminutive of castrum, "fort or camp.".
Is “castle” a common word?
“Castle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “castle” have?
“Castle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large fortified building, historically home to a king or noble, built to withstand attack.
What is the difference between a castle and a palace?
A castle is built for defense, with thick walls, towers, and battlements meant to survive attack, and it usually served a military as well as a residential role. A palace is a grand home built for comfort and display, with no serious defenses. In short, a castle protects; a palace impresses.
What is the difference between a castle and a fort?
A fort is a purely military structure, built to house soldiers and defend a position. A castle is also fortified but doubles as the private residence of a lord or monarch, combining a home with strong defenses. So every castle is fortified, but a fort is not a nobleman's household.
What are the main parts of a castle?
A classic castle has several defensive features: a moat, a water-filled ditch around the walls; a drawbridge across it; tall curtain walls topped with battlements for archers; and towers for lookout and defense. At the heart stands the keep, the strongest tower, where people sheltered if the outer walls fell.
Why were castles built?
Castles served several purposes at once. They defended against attack, gave a lord a secure base to control the surrounding land, and displayed his wealth and power. From behind their walls, rulers could dominate a region, collect taxes, and shelter during war. They were fortress, home, and symbol of authority combined.
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