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surround definition

sur·round (sə ro̵und)

transitive verb

  1. to cause to be encircled on all or nearly all sides police surrounded the house
    1. to form an enclosure around; encompass a wall surrounds the city
    2. to be present on all or nearly all sides of; encircle lush fields surround the cottage
  2. to enclose (a fort, military unit, etc.) with troops so as to cut off communication or retreat; invest

Etymology: ME surrounden, altered (as if < sur-, sur- + round) < surunden, to overflow < OFr suronder < LL superundare < L super- (see super-) + undare, to move in waves, rise < unda, a wave (see water)

noun

Chiefly Brit. something serving as a border, etc.

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