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What is the difference between tower and castle?

tower | castle |

In obsolete terms the difference between tower and castle

is that tower is high flight; elevation while castle is a close helmet.

As nouns the difference between tower and castle

is that tower is a structure, usually taller than it is wide, often used as a lookout, usually unsupported by guy-wires while castle is a large building that is fortified and contains many defences; in previous ages often inhabited by a nobleman or king.

As verbs the difference between tower and castle

is that tower is to be very tall while castle is to perform the move of castling.

As a proper noun Castle is

{{surname}.

tower

English

(wikipedia tower)

Alternative forms

* (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) torr, from (etyl) turris. Probably influenced by Welsh .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A structure, usually taller than it is wide, often used as a lookout, usually unsupported by guy-wires.
    • From the top of the tower we could see far off into the distance.
  • (figuratively) Any item, such as a computer case, that is usually higher than it is wide.
  • (informal) An interlocking tower.
  • (figurative) A strong refuge; a defence.
  • * Bible, Psalms lxi. 3
    • Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
  • (historical) A tall fashionable headdress.
  • * Hudibras
    • Lay trains of amorous intrigues / In towers , and curls, and periwigs.
  • (obsolete) High flight; elevation.
    • (Johnson)
  • The sixteenth trump or Major Arcana card in many decks, deemed an ill omen.
    • Synonyms
    * donjon
    Derived terms
    * control tower * guardtower * interlocking tower * radio tower * siege tower * tower of Babel * towers of Hanoi * tower of strength * watchtower * water tower

    See also

    * * mast

    Verb

  • To be very tall.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-03, volume=408, issue=8847, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Revenge of the nerds , passage=Think of banking today and the image is of grey-suited men in towering skyscrapers. Its future, however, is being shaped in converted warehouses and funky offices in San Francisco, New York and London, where bright young things in jeans and T-shirts huddle around laptops, sipping lattes or munching on free food.}}
  • To be high or lofty; to soar.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
    • My lord protector's hawks do tower so well.
  • (obsolete) To soar into.
    • (Milton)

    Derived terms

    * tower over

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who tows.
  • * 1933 , Henry Sturmey, ?H. Walter Staner, The Autocar
    • But as the tower and towee reached the cross-roads again, another car, negligently driven, came round the corner, hit the Morris, and severed the tow rope, sending the unfortunate car back again into the shop window

    Anagrams

    *

    castle

    English

    (wikipedia castle)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A large building that is fortified and contains many defences; in previous ages often inhabited by a nobleman or king.
  • (chess) An instance of castling.
  • (chess, informal) A rook; a chess piece shaped like a castle tower.
  • (obsolete) A close helmet.
  • * 1786 , Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons , p. 12,
    • The castle was perhaps a figurative name for a close headpiece deduced from its enclosing and defending the head, as a castle did the whole body; or a corruption from the Old French word casquetel , a small or light helmet.
  • (dated) Any strong, imposing, and stately mansion.
  • (dated) A small tower, as on a ship, or an elephant's back.

    • Usage notes

    For the chess piece, chess players prefer the term rook.

    Synonyms

    * (building) fortress, keep

    Derived terms

    * build castles in the air * castellated * castle in the air * ice castle * king of the castle * sandcastle

    See also

    * *

    Verb

    (castl)
  • (chess) To perform the move of castling.
  • (cricket) To bowl a batsman with a full-length ball or yorker such that the stumps are knocked over.
  • * 2009 , Lightning Bolt blows over Gayle , BBC Sport:
    • And the 23-year-old brought the crowd to their feet when he castled Gayle's stumps, signalling the direction of the pavilion to his friend for good measure.
  • * 2011 , Firdose Moonda, A day for missed hat-tricks , ESPNcricinfo:
    • He bowled Vinay with a with a full, straight ball that castled off stump and then dished up a yorker that RP Singh backed away to and sent onto his stumps.

    Anagrams

    *