fortification

Everyday

1. A wall, tower, ditch or other structure built to defend a place from attack. tree →
2. The act of making a place stronger against attack. tree →
3. (food) Adding vitamins or minerals to food, such as vitamins added to cereal. tree →

In the lessons

In history, castles, city walls, hill forts and Hadrian's Wall are fortifications. In geography, coastal fortifications defended harbours. In health, «fortified» cereals and flour have added vitamins, iron or folic acid. Phrases: «stone fortifications», «coastal fortifications», «food fortification».

Examples

• The castle's fortifications included a moat and high walls. tree →
• Romans built fortifications along the border. tree →
• We visited the old harbour fortifications. tree →
• The fortification of the town took ten years. tree →
• Iron fortification of cereal helps children's health. tree →
• Soldiers dug trenches as fortifications. tree →
• The citizens of a certain city were debating about the best material to use in the fortifications which were about to be erected for the greater security of the town. tree →

Note

Noun from the verb «fortify». Countable for the structures, uncountable for the process. Related: fort, fortress.