First Known Use: 1562
Dictionary
citadel
noun cit·a·del \ˈsi-tə-dəl, -ˌdel\
: a castle or fort that in past times was used to protect the people of a city if the city was attacked
Full Definition of CITADEL
1
: a fortress that commands a city
2
: stronghold <the nation's citadel of health research — Constance Holden> <a citadel of higher education>
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Origin of CITADEL
Middle French citadelle, from Old Italian cittadella, diminutive of cittade city, from Medieval Latin civitat-, civitas — more at city
Related to CITADEL
- Synonyms
- bastion, castle, fort, fastness, fortification, fortress, hold, redoubt, stronghold
Rhymes with CITADEL
APL, Appenzell, aquarelle, asphodel, Azazel, bagatelle, barbicel, béchamel, brocatelle, Camberwell, caramel, caravel, carousel, cascabel, chanterelle, chaparral, Charles Martel, clientele, cockleshell, Cozumel, decibel, demoiselle, diving bell, fare-thee-well, fontanel, immortelle, Jezebel, killer cell, kiss-and-tell, lenticel, mangonel, muscatel, ne'er-do-well, Neuchâtel, Neufchâtel, New Rochelle, nonpareil, organelle, oversell, parallel, pedicel, pennoncel, personnel, petronel, Philomel, pimpernel, rebel yell, red blood cell, Sanctus bell, San Rafael, São Miguel, show-and-tell, sickle cell, silver bell, solar cell, tortoiseshell, undersell, villanelle, white blood cell, William Tell, zinfandel
CITADEL Defined for Kids
citadel
noun cit·a·del \ˈsi-tə-dəl, -ˌdel\
Definition of CITADEL for Kids
: a fortress that sits high above a city
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