for·ti·fi·ca·tion

(fôr′tə-fĭ-kā′shən)

a. The science of fortifying.

b. The act or process of fortifying.

2. Something that serves to fortify, especially military works erected to fortify a position or place.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

fortification

(ˌfɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən)

1. the act, art, or science of fortifying or strengthening

2. (Fortifications)

a. a wall, mound, etc, used to fortify a place

b. such works collectively

3. (Fortifications) any place that can be militarily defended

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

for•ti•fi•ca•tion

(ˌfɔr tə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən)

n.

1. the process or act of fortifying.

2. something that fortifies or protects.

3. Often, fortifications. military works constructed in order to defend or strengthen a position.

[1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	fortification - defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it munition bastion - projecting part of a rampart or other fortification bunker, dugout - a fortification of earth; mostly or entirely below ground castle - a large building formerly occupied by a ruler and fortified against attack defensive structure, defence, defense - a structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses" defilade - the arrangement of defensive fortifications to protect against enemy fire entrenchment, intrenchment - an entrenched fortification; a position protected by trenches escarp, protective embankment, scarp, escarpment - a steep artificial slope in front of a fortification fieldwork - a temporary fortification built by troops in the field lunette - temporary fortification like a detached bastion palisade - fortification consisting of a strong fence made of stakes driven into the ground breastwork, parapet - fortification consisting of a low wall bulwark, rampart, wall - an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes; "they stormed the ramparts of the city"; "they blew the trumpet and the walls came tumbling down" redoubt - (military) a temporary or supplementary fortification; typically square or polygonal without flanking defenses stockade - fortification consisting of a fence made of a line of stout posts set firmly for defense
	2.	fortification - the art or science of strengthening defenses artistry, prowess, art - a superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation; "the art of conversation"; "it's quite an art"
	3.	fortification - the addition of an ingredient for the purpose of enrichment (as the addition of alcohol to wine or the addition of vitamins to food) enrichment - act of making fuller or more meaningful or rewarding

fortification

noun

1. reinforcement, protecting, securing, protection, strengthening, reinforcing, embattlement Europe's fortification of its frontiers

2. defence, keep, protection, castle, fort, fortress, stronghold, bastion, citadel, bulwark, fastness troops stationed just behind the fortification

3. strengthening, supplementing, reinforcement nutrient fortification of food

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

تَحْصينتَحْصين، تَقْوِيَه

opevněníopevňování

befæstningberigelseforskansning

Befestigung Verbesserung

οχύρωμα οχύρωση

fortification enceinte

víggirîingvirkisgerî; styrking

fortificazione bastionata

befestning tilsetting

fortificação

фортификация

opevnenie

surtahkimattakviye etme

设防防御工事

fortification

[ˌfɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən] N (= act, means of defence) → fortificación f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

fortification

[ˌfɔː^rtɪfɪˈkeɪʃ^ən] n → fortification f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

fortification

(= act of fortifying) (of town) → Befestigung f; (of wine) → Vergärung f; (of food) → Anreicherung f; (of person) → Bestärkung f

fortifications pl (Mil) → Befestigungen pl, → Festungsanlagen pl

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

fortification

[ˌfɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃ/ən] n → fortificazione f

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

fortify

(ˈfoːtifai) verb

1. to prepare (a building, city etc) for an attack by strengthening and arming it. The king fortified the castle against the attacking armies.

2. to strengthen or enrich (eg food, drink). Sherry is a fortified wine.

ˌfortifiˈcation (-fi-) noun

1. walls etc built to strengthen an army, city, nation etc against attack. Fortifications surrounded the city.

2. the act of fortifying.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

And that morning Colonel Michaud had ridden round the Drissa fortifications with the Emperor and had pointed out to him that this fortified camp constructed by Pfuel, and till then considered a chef-d'oeuvre of tactical science which would ensure Napoleon's destruction, was an absurdity, threatening the destruction of the Russian army.

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The want of fortifications, leaving the frontiers of one state open to another, would facilitate inroads.

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A day or two will be spent here in looking over the wonderful subterraneous fortifications, permission to visit these galleries being readily obtained.

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The Northwest Company had made a second memorial to that government, representing Astoria as an American establishment, stating the vast scope of its contemplated operations, magnifying the strength of its fortifications, and expressing their fears that, unless crushed in the bud, it would effect the downfall of their trade.

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"Oh, I am convinced of that," said Fouquet, warmly; "your majesty knows very well that you have nothing to do but to come alone with a cane in your hand, to bring to the ground all the fortifications of Belle-Isle."

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Almost as soon as peace was declared, therefore, they began to build strong fortifications in the interior of North America.

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It was a rude, mud-built town in the time of the Britons, who squatted there, until the Roman legions evicted them; and replaced their clay-baked walls by mighty fortifications, the trace of which Time has not yet succeeded in sweeping away, so well those old-world masons knew how to build.

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He noticed that their borders were formed of steep declivities; they were long parallel ramparts, and with some small amount of imagination he might have admitted the existence of long lines of fortifications, raised by Selenite engineers.

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The brain is at least twenty feet from his apparent forehead in life; it is hidden away behind its vast outworks, like the innermost citadel within the amplified fortifications of Quebec.

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The angles of a Square (and still more those of an equilateral Triangle), being much more pointed than those of a Pentagon, and the lines of inanimate objects (such as houses) being dimmer than the lines of Men and Women, it follows that there is no little danger lest the points of a square or triangular house residence might do serious injury to an inconsiderate or perhaps absent-minded traveller suddenly therefore, running against them: and as early as the eleventh century of our era, triangular houses were universally forbidden by Law, the only exceptions being fortifications, powder-magazines, barracks, and other state buildings, which it is not desirable that the general public should approach without circumspection.

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They cordially hated them; but the impulses of their resentment were neutralized by their dread of the floating batteries, which lay with their fatal tubes ostentatiously pointed, not at fortifications and redoubts, but at a handful of bamboo sheds, sheltered in a grove of cocoanuts!

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But when the victorious Romans brought with them the heavy solid fortifications impregnable to the weapons of the time, its commanding position alone ensured its adequate building and equipment.

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