moat

/moʊt/
verb
  1. To surround or protect something with a moat.
    • The king ordered his engineers to moat the castle for extra security.
    • They decided to moat the garden to keep out deer.
    • The ancient city was moated on three sides by a deep channel.
noun
  1. A deep, wide ditch, usually filled with water, dug around a castle or fort to protect it from attack.
    • The castle was surrounded by a wide moat filled with clear water.
    • In ancient times, a moat made it much harder for enemies to reach the castle walls.
    • Tourists crossed the drawbridge over the moat to enter the medieval fortress.
  2. A natural or artificial barrier that protects or isolates something.
    • The company's strong brand recognition acts as a moat against new competitors.
    • The garden was separated from the road by a moat of thick hedges.
    • A ring of mountains formed a natural moat around the valley.
Synonyms
What does "moat" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean