1
a/the citadel of [something]
这里用比喻义，指守护某种理念、传统或价值观的地方。
The city became a citadel of freedom during the war.
战争期间，这座城市变成了自由的堡垒。
城堡；避难处
citadels — plural of citadel
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
城堡；避难处
a stronghold or fortress where people can take shelter during a battle
The city became a citadel of freedom during the war.
战争期间，这座城市变成了自由的堡垒。
坐落在城市上方的坚固堡垒。
A strong fortress that sits high above a city.
战斗中可避难的要塞
a stronghold into which people could go for shelter during a battle
要塞或设防的地方。
A stronghold or fortified place.
战舰上装有重要装备的装甲部分。
An armoured portion of a warship, housing important equipment.
During the storm, the villagers took shelter inside the ancient citadel.
暴风雨期间，村民们躲进古老的城堡里避难。
When the city walls were breached, the soldiers retreated to the citadel.
当城墙被攻破时，士兵们撤退到了城堡里。
A small museum now occupies the old citadel overlooking the harbor.
一座小型博物馆如今占据了俯瞰海港的古老城堡。
这里用比喻义，指守护某种理念、传统或价值观的地方。
The city became a citadel of freedom during the war.
战争期间，这座城市变成了自由的堡垒。
这个词组体现了“进入城堡避难”的典型用法，与词义中的避难处一致。
At nightfall, the farmers went into the citadel for safety.
夜幕降临时，农民们进入城堡以确保安全。
描述城堡位于高处时，常用 overlook 表示“俯瞰”。
The citadel overlooks the valley from the top of the hill.
城堡从山顶俯瞰着山谷。
Not this
The general ordered soldiers to defend citadel.
Use this
The general ordered soldiers to defend the citadel.
citadel 是可数名词，单数形式前需要限定词；这里特指那座堡垒，所以应加 the。
Not this
After the earthquake, thousands of people looked for a citadel.
Use this
After the earthquake, thousands of people looked for shelter.
citadel 指军事防御用的堡垒或要塞，不是一般意义上的避难所；表示普通避难处应根据语境用 shelter，避免望文生义。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
古老的城堡
The ancient citadel overlooks the valley.
这座古老的城堡俯瞰着山谷。
城堡围墙
The citadel walls were built to resist enemy attacks.
城堡围墙是为了抵御敌人进攻而修建的。
围攻城堡
The army besieged the citadel for months.
军队围攻城堡长达数月。
山间要塞
They took refuge in a mountain citadel.
他们躲进了一座山间要塞。
自由的堡垒
The city is regarded as a citadel of freedom.
这座城市被视为自由的堡垒。
民主的堡垒
The small nation saw itself as a citadel of democracy in a turbulent region.
这个小国自认为是动荡地区中民主的堡垒。
学术殿堂，学问的堡垒
For centuries, the university was regarded as a citadel of learning.
几个世纪以来，这所大学一直被视为学问的堡垒。
自由的堡垒
The city became a citadel of freedom during the occupation.
在占领期间，这座城市成为了自由的堡垒。
Use citadels naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想 city（城市）：citadel 拼写以 cit 开头，像城中的堡垒，打仗时躲进去避难。
语域：formal 常见场景：历史叙述、军事文献、文学写作 该词通常用于正式或书面语境，多出现在历史、军事或文学描述中；日常口语中较少使用，更常见的是castle或fort。
The final syllable of 'citadel' is /-dɛl/, which rhymes with hotel /hoʊˈtɛl/, cartel /kɑːrˈtɛl/, personnel /ˌpɜːrsəˈnɛl/, and compel /kəmˈpɛl/ (all share the /-ɛl/ ending sound). Be careful with lookalikes such as model /ˈmɑː.dəl/ and pedal /ˈpɛd.əl/, which end in the unstressed /-əl/ sound, not /-ɛl/.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.