moat

noun

ˈmōt 

1

: a deep and wide trench around the rampart of a fortified place (such as a castle) that is usually filled with water

The moat can be crossed by a drawbridge.

2

: a channel resembling a moat (as about a seamount or for confinement of animals in a zoo)

A Bengal tiger stared at me from across the moat.

moated

ˈmō-təd 

adjective

moatlike

ˈmōt-ˌlīk 

adjective

Illustration of moat

• moat 1

Examples of moat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is because the company is unlikely to command the moat and goodwill of Amazon or Microsoft as leading Big Tech companies. —Gurufocus, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Our favorite bite of the night was a dish with Kaluga caviar served atop a buckwheat blini that floated in a moat of beurre blanc. —Maddy Johnston, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024

All was peaceful until August 21, 1935, when as many as 175 rhesus monkeys escaped from their mountain, supposedly after a worker left a wooden plank over the moat that normally kept them in. —Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024

However, radar data indicate that Milton could be at the beginning of an eyewall replacement cycle, with some signs of a moat and a partial outer eyewall. —Tom Tapp, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mote, from Anglo-French mote, motte mound, moat

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

moat

noun

ˈmōt 

: a deep wide trench around the walls of a castle or fortress that is usually filled with water