English Dictionary

BASTILLE

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IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Bastille mean? 

BASTILLE (noun)
  The noun BASTILLE has 2 senses:

1. a fortress built in Paris in the 14th century and used as a prison in the 17th and 18th centuries; it was destroyed July 14, 1789 at the start of the French Revolutionplay

2. a jail or prison (especially one that is run in a tyrannical manner)play

  Familiarity information: BASTILLE used as a noun is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


BASTILLE (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

A fortress built in Paris in the 14th century and used as a prison in the 17th and 18th centuries; it was destroyed July 14, 1789 at the start of the French Revolution

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Instance hypernyms:

fort; fortress (a fortified defensive structure)

Domain region:

France; French Republic (a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe)

Holonyms ("Bastille" is a part of...):

capital of France; City of Light; French capital; Paris (the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce)


Sense 2

Meaning:

A jail or prison (especially one that is run in a tyrannical manner)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("bastille" is a kind of...):

clink; gaol; jail; jailhouse; pokey; poky; slammer (a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence))

prison; prison house (a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment)


 Context examples 


The inventor previously presented the device at the Bastille Day military parade earlier this year.

(French inventor Franky Zapata successfully crosses English Channel on jet-powered hoverboard, Wikinews)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Good wine needs no bush." (English proverb)

"When the poor man is burried, the large bell of the parish is silent" (Breton proverb)

"Suspicion is the sister of the wrong." (Arabic proverb)

"Those who had some shame are dead." (Egyptian proverb)



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