transitive verb circumscribed -·scribed′, circumscribing -·scrib′·ing

1. to trace a line around; encircle; encompass
2. 1. to set or mark off the limits of; limit; confine
   2. to restrict the action of; restrain
3. 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

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