Illustration of moat
- moat 1
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 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, Apple can focus on other products that expand its moat. 
Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 Earning and owning this badge carries credibility that can keep the moat deep for many years. Erik Oberholtzer, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2022 Twenty million seeds representing 29 flower species have been planted in the moat around the tower, which has been a dry ditch since 1845. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2022 The Tower of London is planting a colorful field of millions of flowers, the first permanent transformation of its moat into a new natural landscape. Jane Levere, CNN, 29 May 2022 Finally, another wide moat business investors could consider would be an actual manufacturer such as Taiwan Semiconductor. Steven Dudash, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 There’s no moat besides scale, and multiple other companies have scale. John Koetsier, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 The creek around [the property], it’s like a little moat. Kathy Orton, Washington Post, 8 July 2022 Natounissarokerta is composed of the royal name Natounissar, the founder of the Adiabene royal dynasty, and the Parthian word for moat or fortification, the study also said. Katie Hunt, CNN, 19 July 2022 See More
Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 Earning and owning this badge carries credibility that can keep the moat deep for many years. Erik Oberholtzer, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2022 Twenty million seeds representing 29 flower species have been planted in the moat around the tower, which has been a dry ditch since 1845. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2022 The Tower of London is planting a colorful field of millions of flowers, the first permanent transformation of its moat into a new natural landscape. Jane Levere, CNN, 29 May 2022 Finally, another wide moat business investors could consider would be an actual manufacturer such as Taiwan Semiconductor. Steven Dudash, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 There’s no moat besides scale, and multiple other companies have scale. John Koetsier, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 The creek around [the property], it’s like a little moat. Kathy Orton, Washington Post, 8 July 2022 Natounissarokerta is composed of the royal name Natounissar, the founder of the Adiabene royal dynasty, and the Parthian word for moat or fortification, the study also said. Katie Hunt, CNN, 19 July 2022 See More 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 ditch around the walls of a castle or fort that is usually filled with water
moats
noun
as in ditches
a deep, wide excavation 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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ditches
- trenches
- fosses
- dikes
- culverts
- gullies
- ravines
- stanks
- troughs
- gutters
- gulleys
- drains
- sunk fences
- ha-has
- acequias
- furrows
- sheughs
- drills
- kennels
- draws
- screw surface
- screw tail
- screw tap
- screw the pooch
- screw thread
- screw top
- screw tree
- screw up one's courage
- screw up one's eyes
- screw up one's face
- screw up one's face/eyes
- screw up the courage
- screw up the/one's courage
- screw vault
- screw wheel
- screw wrench
- screw-cutting lathe
- screw-piled
- screw-pine family
- screw-pitch gage
- screw-pod mesquite
- screw-ship
- screw-top
- screwable
- screwball