moat
noun
\ ˈmōt
\
\
Definition of moat
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.
Illustration of moat
moat 1
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Other Words from moat
moated
\ ˈmō-təd
\
adjective
\
adjective
moatlike
\ ˈmōt-ˌlīk
\
adjective
\
adjective
Examples of moat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This medieval-inspired stone castle flaunts arched portals, flying buttresses, towers, onion domes, a moat and a drawbridge. — Tom Noel, The Know, "9 odd places that you should include on a Colorado road trip, from a giant hot dog to fake cliff dwellings," 25 Aug. 2019 The Motley Fool Take Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is an appealing candidate for your portfolio, with a huge defensive moat and investments in a range of promising businesses. — Dallas News, "Motley Fool: Alphabet's a solid buy, what to do when the market plunges and this week's trivia," 25 Aug. 2019 The stage of the 1990 Magic Summer tour — the Kingdome show — had been separated from the front row by a 10-foot moat, an actual cage, and a line of massive security dudes. — Rebecca Schuman, Longreads, "I’ll Be Loving You Forever," 14 Aug. 2019 To that end, the A’s plan to make their parking lot significantly smaller than the asphalt moat at the Coliseum — with 3,500 spaces on opening day, eventually reduced to 2,000 spaces at most. — Rachel Swan, SFChronicle.com, "How to get to the A’s proposed ballpark? Oakland council anxiously counts the ways," 3 July 2019 Completed in the early 2000s, the Montanas’ 9,700-square-foot, three-bedroom home has lots of European details, including a small moat and bridge out front. — Katherine Clarke, WSJ, "Joe Montana Relists California Estate at 41% Discount," 10 July 2019 Symton solved this problem, in part, by piling wet mash in the center of their bins with a moat of dry material along the edges to prevent escape. — Christopher Ingraham, Washington Post, "Maggots: A taste of food’s future," 3 July 2019 That it is housed in a neo-gothic mansion, complete with a moat defending what used to be its underground vault, adds to the mystique. — The Economist, "Displays dedicated to explaining economics offer marginal returns," 28 June 2019 Hello, Delhi! Chunks of braised lamb in a moat of creamy spinach are the kind of rib-sticker best consumed by a lumberjack, or in another season. — Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, "Commonwealth Indian is dressed to thrill in Rockville," 26 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'moat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for moat
moat
noun
English Language Learners Definition of moat
: a deep, wide ditch that is usually filled with water and that goes around the walls of a place (such as a castle) to protect it from being attacked
See the full definition for moat in the English Language Learners Dictionary
moat
noun
\ ˈmōt
\
\
Kids Definition of moat
: a deep wide ditch around the walls of a castle or fort that is usually filled with water
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