/fawr'teuh fi kay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act of fortifying or strengthening.
2. something that fortifies or protects.
3. the art or science of constructing defensive military works.
4. Often, fortifications . military works constructed for the purpose of strengthening a position; a fort: Supposedly impregnable, the fortifications were quickly overrun.
5. a strengthening or improvement, as by addition of or intensification with another ingredient: the fortification of milk with vitamin D; the fortification of wine with alcohol.
[ 1400-50; late ME fortification- (s. of fortificatio ), equiv. to fortificat ( us ) fortified (see FORTIFY, -ATE 1 ) + -ion- -ION ]
Syn. 4. fortress, citadel, stronghold, bulwark.