bulwark
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bul·wark
(bo͝ol′wərk, -wôrk′, bŭl′-)n.
1. A wall or embankment raised as a defensive fortification; a rampart.
2. Something serving as a defense or safeguard: "We have seen the necessity of the Union, as our bulwark against foreign danger" (James Madison).
3. A breakwater.
4. often bulwarks The part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck.
tr.v. bul·warked, bul·wark·ing, bul·warks
1. To fortify with a wall, embankment, or rampart.
2. To provide defense or protection for: "the wetland that bulwarked the pond" (Edward Hoagland).
[Middle English bulwerk, from Middle Dutch bolwerk, from Middle High German bolwerc : bole, plank; see bhel- in Indo-European roots + werc, work (from Old High German; see werg- in Indo-European roots).]
Synonyms: bulwark, barricade, breastwork, earthwork, rampart, bastion, parapet
These nouns refer literally to structures used as a defense against attack. A bulwark is a strong defensive barrier, often an embankment or wall-like fortification, from which fire can be directed. A barricade is an improvised barrier meant to stop or slow an advancing threat. Breastwork denotes a low defensive wall, especially a temporary one hurriedly built. An earthwork is an embankment made of soil, and may include a trench or moat. A rampart, the main defensive structure around a guarded place, is permanent, high, and broad. A bastion is a projecting section of a fortification from which defenders have a wide range of view and fire. Parapet applies to any low fortification, typically a wall atop a rampart. Of these words bulwark, bastion, and rampart are the most frequently used to refer figuratively to something regarded as being a safeguard or a source of protection: "The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough ... to maintain its sovereign control over its government" (Franklin D. Roosevelt)."the University of Virginia, a school founded by Jefferson to be a bastion of free thought" (Garry Wills)."The sense of being a couple ... is the strongest rampart against the relentless threat of our divorce culture" (Judith S. Wallerstein).
These nouns refer literally to structures used as a defense against attack. A bulwark is a strong defensive barrier, often an embankment or wall-like fortification, from which fire can be directed. A barricade is an improvised barrier meant to stop or slow an advancing threat. Breastwork denotes a low defensive wall, especially a temporary one hurriedly built. An earthwork is an embankment made of soil, and may include a trench or moat. A rampart, the main defensive structure around a guarded place, is permanent, high, and broad. A bastion is a projecting section of a fortification from which defenders have a wide range of view and fire. Parapet applies to any low fortification, typically a wall atop a rampart. Of these words bulwark, bastion, and rampart are the most frequently used to refer figuratively to something regarded as being a safeguard or a source of protection: "The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough ... to maintain its sovereign control over its government" (Franklin D. Roosevelt)."the University of Virginia, a school founded by Jefferson to be a bastion of free thought" (Garry Wills)."The sense of being a couple ... is the strongest rampart against the relentless threat of our divorce culture" (Judith S. Wallerstein).
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.
bulwark
(ˈbʊlwək)n
1. (Fortifications) a wall or similar structure used as a fortification; rampart
2. a person or thing acting as a defence against injury, annoyance, etc
3. (Nautical Terms) (often plural) nautical a solid vertical fencelike structure along the outward sides of a deck
4. (Navigation) a breakwater or mole
vb
(Fortifications) (tr) to defend or fortify with or as if with a bulwark
[C15: via Dutch from Middle High German bolwerk, from bol plank, bole1 + werk work]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
bul•wark
(ˈbʊl wərk, -wɔrk, ˈbʌl-)n.
1. a wall of earth or other material built for defense; rampart.
2. any protection against external danger, injury, or annoyance.
3. any person or thing giving strong support or encouragement in time of need, danger, or doubt.
4. Usu., bulwarks. (on a ship) a wall enclosing the perimeter of a weather or main deck.
v.t. 5. to fortify or protect with a bulwark.
[1375–1425; late Middle English bulwerk, probably < Middle Dutch bolwerc]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
bulwark
- Comes from German bole, "plank," and werc, "work," and originally meant "rampart made out of planks or tree trunks."See also related terms for rampart.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
Bulwark
a collection of persons acting as a defense or safeguard to protect an ideal or way of life.Examples: bulwark of Christendom, 1577; of our laws, 1614; of our liberties, 1789; to theology, 1837.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
bulwark
Past participle: bulwarked
Gerund: bulwarking
| Imperative |
|---|
| bulwark |
| bulwark |
| Present |
|---|
| I bulwark |
| you bulwark |
| he/she/it bulwarks |
| we bulwark |
| you bulwark |
| they bulwark |
| Preterite |
|---|
| I bulwarked |
| you bulwarked |
| he/she/it bulwarked |
| we bulwarked |
| you bulwarked |
| they bulwarked |
| Present Continuous |
|---|
| I am bulwarking |
| you are bulwarking |
| he/she/it is bulwarking |
| we are bulwarking |
| you are bulwarking |
| they are bulwarking |
| Present Perfect |
|---|
| I have bulwarked |
| you have bulwarked |
| he/she/it has bulwarked |
| we have bulwarked |
| you have bulwarked |
| they have bulwarked |
| Past Continuous |
|---|
| I was bulwarking |
| you were bulwarking |
| he/she/it was bulwarking |
| we were bulwarking |
| you were bulwarking |
| they were bulwarking |
| Past Perfect |
|---|
| I had bulwarked |
| you had bulwarked |
| he/she/it had bulwarked |
| we had bulwarked |
| you had bulwarked |
| they had bulwarked |
| Future |
|---|
| I will bulwark |
| you will bulwark |
| he/she/it will bulwark |
| we will bulwark |
| you will bulwark |
| they will bulwark |
| Future Perfect |
|---|
| I will have bulwarked |
| you will have bulwarked |
| he/she/it will have bulwarked |
| we will have bulwarked |
| you will have bulwarked |
| they will have bulwarked |
| Future Continuous |
|---|
| I will be bulwarking |
| you will be bulwarking |
| he/she/it will be bulwarking |
| we will be bulwarking |
| you will be bulwarking |
| they will be bulwarking |
| Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I have been bulwarking |
| you have been bulwarking |
| he/she/it has been bulwarking |
| we have been bulwarking |
| you have been bulwarking |
| they have been bulwarking |
| Future Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I will have been bulwarking |
| you will have been bulwarking |
| he/she/it will have been bulwarking |
| we will have been bulwarking |
| you will have been bulwarking |
| they will have been bulwarking |
| Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I had been bulwarking |
| you had been bulwarking |
| he/she/it had been bulwarking |
| we had been bulwarking |
| you had been bulwarking |
| they had been bulwarking |
| Conditional |
|---|
| I would bulwark |
| you would bulwark |
| he/she/it would bulwark |
| we would bulwark |
| you would bulwark |
| they would bulwark |
| Past Conditional |
|---|
| I would have bulwarked |
| you would have bulwarked |
| he/she/it would have bulwarked |
| we would have bulwarked |
| you would have bulwarked |
| they would have bulwarked |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun 1. [画像:bulwark - an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes]bulwark - 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"
bailey - the outer defensive wall that surrounds the outer courtyard of a castle
battlement, crenelation, crenellation - a rampart built around the top of a castle with regular gaps for firing arrows or guns
earthwork - an earthen rampart
embankment - a long artificial mound of stone or earth; built to hold back water or to support a road or as protection
fortification, munition - defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it
fraise - sloping or horizontal rampart of pointed stakes
merlon - a solid section between two crenels in a crenelated battlement
2. bulwark - a fencelike structure around a deck (usually plural)
barrier - a structure or object that impedes free movement
ship - a vessel that carries passengers or freight
3. [画像:bulwark - a protective structure of stone or concrete]bulwark - a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away
barrier - a structure or object that impedes free movement
Verb 1. bulwark - defend with a bulwark
defend - be on the defensive; act against an attack
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
bulwark
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
حِصْن، مِتْراس
opevněníval
skanseværn
aallonmurtaja
vörn, varnargarîur
pylimas
aizsargvalnis
val
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
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
bulwark
n
(lit, fig) → Bollwerk nt
(Naut) → Schanzkleid nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
bulwark
(ˈbulwək) noun a wall built as a defence, often made of earth. bolwerk, verskansing حِصْن، مِتْراس насип amurada val, opevnění das Bollwerk værn; skanse πρόχωμα, οχυρό baluarte kaitsevall سنگر suojamuuri rempart סוֹלֶלַת מָגֵן किला, दुर्ग bedem bástya kubu pertahanan bastione とりで 방벽 pylimas aizsargvalnis benteng wal festningsmur, –voll, bolverk wał ochronny سنګر amurada meterez вал val okop bedem bålverk ป้อมปราการ siper 堡壘 вал; бастіон پشتہ بندی ، بچاؤ ، پناہ bức tường thành 堡垒
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.