château

A man in a château stands by the grand fireplace.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large country house or estate in France, often a former feudal castle or manor house. The term "château" typically refers to a grand residence, especially one associated with the French nobility or wine-producing regions.

Usage Examples

• (A large French country house or estate.)
• (A grand residence with vineyards.)

Advanced Usage

• "château" in wine contexts: In wine regions like Bordeaux, "château" refers to a wine-producing estate, not necessarily a large building.

  • Château Margaux is one of the most prestigious wineries in France. (A wine estate with a grand house.)

• "château" as a historical term: The word can also denote a fortified medieval castle, though in modern usage it often implies a luxurious residence.

  • The medieval château was built on a hill to defend the valley. (A fortified castle.)

Variants and Related Words

• Châteaux (plural): the plural form of "château."
  • The châteaux of the Dordogne region attract many tourists. (Multiple large French country houses.)

Synonyms

• Manor: a large country house with lands.
• Castle: a large fortified building, often medieval.
• Estate: a large area of land with a grand house.

Related Idioms

• "A château in the air": an unrealistic or fanciful plan (similar to "a castle in the air").
  • His dream of owning a vineyard was just a château in the air. (An impractical fantasy.)

Note on the Reference Definition

The reference definition provided (from a Vietnamese-English dictionary) incorrectly defines "château" as "người thô kệch; người ngờ nghệch" (a coarse or foolish person). This is a mistranslation or confusion with an unrelated word. The correct meaning in English is exclusively a large French country house or estate, as explained above.