fortress

Compared meaning: a strong building used for defense (noun).

比较义项：用于防御的坚固建筑（堡垒、要塞）（名词）。

• fort

  A general, neutral word for a defensive structure; it can be small, simple, or modest in scale, and does not necessarily suggest massive walls.

  fort 是较为一般、中性的说法，指防御性建筑，规模可以较小、简单，不一定意味着高大厚重的城墙。

  The old fort, with just a few rusty cannons, guarded the harbor entrance.

  那座老堡垒只有几门生锈的大炮，却守着海港入口。

• fortress 本词

  Suggests a large, heavily fortified, often ancient and imposing structure; it sounds grander and more formidable than 'fort'.

  fortress 让人联想到规模宏大、防御工事坚固、常常十分古老雄伟的建筑；听起来比 fort 更庄严、更坚不可摧。

  The medieval fortress, with its massive stone walls, withstood every siege for centuries.

  那座中世纪要塞城墙厚重坚固，几百年来抵御了每一次围攻。

Both words mean a strong defensive building, but tone and size differ. Fort is a general, neutral word; it can be small, simple, or even informal. Fortress suggests a large, heavily fortified, often ancient and impressive building, sounding grander and harder to defeat.

这两个词在这个意义上很接近，都指用于防御的坚固建筑，但语气和规模不同：fort 是较为一般、中性的说法，可以指规模较小、简易甚至非正式的防御建筑；fortress 则强调规模宏大、防御工事坚固，常带有古老、雄伟的意味，给人的印象比 fort 更庄重、更难以攻破。