Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- v. To form a circle around; surround. See Synonyms at surround.
- v. To move or go around completely; make a circuit of.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- To form a circle round; inclose or surround circularly; embrace as in a ring or circle; gird: as, luminous rings encircle Saturn.
- To encompass; surround; environ: as, the army encircled the city.
- To move about in a circular direction; make the circuit of.
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- v. To form a circle about; to inclose within a circle or ring; to surround
WordNet 3.0
- v. form a circle around
- v. bind with something round or circular
Examples
“Later, the populace again encircle the pole and dance throughout the night.”
“Chinese commentators have expressed concerned that the growing relations between India and the United States are an attempt to "encircle" China.”
The Washington Post: Obama supports adding India as a permanent member of U.N. Security Council
“They took further measurements over a 24 hour period and two men trekked 4.3 miles (7 km) to "encircle" the pole area.”
“Bjaaland, Hassell, and Wisting trek 121/2 miles in three directions to "encircle" the pole area and set up markers (spare sledge runners).”
“One should, therefore, be exceedingly careful in avoiding any measures that would convey the impression that we are trying militarily to "encircle" the Russian Federation.”
“Pakistan believes India is attempting to increase its influence in Afghanistan as a means to "encircle" Pakistan, and India believes that Pakistan's ISI is responsible for supporting the Taliban.”
“In October, Karat upped the ante, saying the real problem with the deal was not the technical issues but the U.S. design to "encircle" China.”
“Tuesday, the Hour of the Tiger, 4: 30 A.M., to the Hour of the Dragon, 8 a.m. The word Wei-Chi consists of two Chinese words — Wei, which means to "encircle," and Chi, which means "piece.”
The Stone Monkey
“According to this thinking, NATO expansion, Western support of the color revolutions and U.S. plans to "encircle" Russia with its global missile defense system are all elements of an insidious Western plot to bring Russia to its knees.”
“Even without the crisis, Pakistani generals were unmoved by American denials that Mr. Obama's engagement in Afghanistan is limited, and they still see the Afghan militants as their best tools to stop rival India from enlisting Afghanistan in a plot to "encircle" Pakistan after a U. S withdrawal, many experts believe.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘encircle’.
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GRE Barrons Wordlist
A complete Barron's Wordlist for GRE preparation. Your online flashcard replacement.
abase, abash, abate, abbreviate, abdicate, aberrant, aberration, abet, abeyance, abhor, abject, abjure and 4084 more...
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I am : surrounded
More-or-less self-explanatory...
surround, encircle, flood, deluge, immerse, submerge, soak, saturate, bury, smother, beseige, stifle and 19 more...
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en-
in; within; to place; to cause to be in; to restrict
bilby
Great Powers of falling wave and wind and windy fire,
With your harmonious choir
Encircle her I love and sing her into peace,
That my old care may cease;
Unfold your flaming wings and cover out of sight
The nets of day and night.
- W.B. Yeats, 'Aedh pleads with the Elemental Powers'. Sep 18, 2009