circumscribe

The definition of circumscribe means to draw a circle around something, or to close off or restrict.

(verb)

See circumscribe in Webster's New World College Dictionary

to trace a line around; encircle; encompass
1. to set or mark off the limits of; limit; confine
2. to restrict the action of; restrain
Geom.
1. to draw a plane figure around (another plane figure) either to intersect each vertex of the inner figure, as a circle around a square, or to have each side of the outer figure tangent to the inner figure, as a square around a circle
2. to enclose a solid figure within (another solid figure) in a similar manner, as a cube within a sphere or a sphere within a cube

Origin: ME circumscriben < L circumscribere: see circum- & scribe

Related Forms:

See circumscribe in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb cir·cum·scribed, cir·cum·scrib·ing, cir·cum·scribes

To draw a line around; encircle.
To limit narrowly; restrict.
To determine the limits of; define. See Synonyms at limit.
a. To enclose (a polygon or polyhedron) within a configuration of lines, curves, or surfaces so that every vertex of the enclosed object is incident on the enclosing configuration.
b. To erect (such a configuration) around a polygon or polyhedron: circumscribe a circle around a square.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English circumscriben

Origin: , from Latin circumscrībere

Origin: : circum-, circum-

Origin: + scrībere, to write; see skrībh- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: