A fortified residence, especially that of a prince or nobleman; a fortress.
A small tower, as on a ship, or an elephant's back.
A large building or group of buildings fortified with heavy walls, battlements, moats, etc. A fortified residence in feudal times. A strongly fortified stronghold.
home of a feudal lord or monarch. A castle is fortified for protection.
A fortress and dwelling, usually medieval in origin, and often consisting of a keep, curtain wall and towers etc. RCHME. Motte and Bailey Castle An early form of castle consisting of a flat-topped steep-sided earthen mound, supporting a wooden tower, and a bailey. RCHME. York Castle in its medieval form represented an example of a motte and bailey castle. A timber castle stood on the motte with two baileys protecting it. more
a large building formerly occupied by a ruler and fortified against attack
a building, or set of buildings, fortified for defence against an enemy
a fortified structure whereas a palace is a luxurious residence
a giant old building with many rooms and stories
a large, fortified building or several buildings which served as a defense for nearby villages, and as a residence for a royal family
a large medieval fortress with adequate living accommodations for its owner or Lord
a military structure larger than a tower but smaller than a fortified town, it is residential but is also defensible in character
a properly fortified military residence designed and built to control a conquered territory
a protected home, build of stone with defense in mind
a small self-contained fortress , usually of the middle ages , though the term is sometimes used of prehistoric earthworks (e
(On a ship) a building or structure raised above the ship's deck, either at the bow (forecastle or fo'c'sle) or stern (sterncastle or aftercastle). Castles were used as places for armed men, to attack or defend, in a sea battle. The fo'c'sle was the traditional quarters of the crew, and the sterncastle held cabins for officers or other important people.
A castle is a fortified (or resembling a fortified by ornamentation) building or group of buildings, designed for residential use as a place of privacy, security, or refuge that usually dominates the surrounding country. (This is my own definition as there seems to be some argument as to an exact definition) The lefthand photo is of Caerlaverock Castle - a 'serious' defensive castle that saw lots of action. The righthand photo shows Culzean Castle - a beautiful country house designed by Robert Adam for comfort and style, not defence. They are both castles
Castle has a history of scholarly debate surrounding its exact meaning. It is usually regarded as being distinct from the general term fortress in that it describes a building which serves as a residence and commands a specific territory.