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# stronghold

noun (a stronghold, strongholds)

«stronghold» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A stronghold is a strong, well-defended place such as a castle or fort that is hard to attack. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/#m1)
2. A stronghold is also a place where a group, idea, animal or plant is still strong and common: "The Highlands are a stronghold of the red squirrel." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/#m2)
3. In politics, a stronghold is an area where most people support one party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/#m3)

### In the lessons

In history lessons castles, hill forts and mountain hideouts are strongholds. In science and conservation, a stronghold is where a rare species survives in good numbers. In news, "a party's stronghold". In stories it is where the hero or villain hides. Phrases: "last stronghold", "rebel stronghold", "stronghold of".

### Examples

- The knights retreated to their stronghold on the hill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/#x1)
- The castle was a stronghold that no army could take. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/#x2)
- Scotland is a stronghold for red squirrels. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/#x3)
- The rebels held a stronghold in the mountains. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/#x4)
- This town is a stronghold of the Labour Party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/#x5)
- The villain's stronghold was hidden under the sea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/#x6)
- The island is the last stronghold of the rare bird. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/#x7)
- She travelled in the direction of Iollan’s stronghold. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/#x8)

### Note

Countable: a stronghold, strongholds. Compound of strong + hold. Close words: fortress, castle, fort, bastion.

## In Jewish tradition

A fortified town or walled place, in contrast to open camps. In the Psalms God is Himself called a stronghold, and David hid in the strongholds of En-gedi while Saul hunted him.

**Interpretation.** The spies Moses sent were told to find out whether the Canaanites lived in open camps or in fortified cities, which showed how strong they were. Tradition reads the psalm's picture of God as a stronghold as meaning He guards Jerusalem and those who trust Him. The prophets also use the word for cities like Tyre that fell.

### Examples

- and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds; (Torah NUM.13.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stronghold/#x1)
- God in her palaces hath made Himself known for a stronghold. (Writings PSA.48.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stronghold/#x2)
- Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste. (Prophets ISA.23.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stronghold/#x3)
- And David went up from thence, and dwelt in the strongholds of En-gedi. (Prophets 1SA.24.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stronghold/#x4)

### Note

Countable: a stronghold, strongholds. Compound of strong + hold. Close words: fortress, castle, fort, bastion.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «stronghold» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stronghold/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«stronghold» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/stronghold.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «stronghold» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stronghold/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«stronghold» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/stronghold.html) on Mova free.