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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
  3. 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.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

surround Synonyms

surround

v.

  1. To be on all sides

    girdle, circle, environ, gird, enclose, shut in, close in, fence in, close around, circle about, envelope, hem in, wall in.

  2. To take a position on all sides

    encompass, encircle, inundate, flow around, besiege, beset, invest, close in, close around, house in, hem in, compass about, go around, beleaguer, blockade; see also circle.

    Antonyms abandon*, flee from, desert.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

surround Usage Examples

Object

  • countryside: Front aspect double glazed window with far reaching views over the surrounding countryside with the coast on the horizon, double radiator.

Preposition: with

  • hearth: DINING ROOM: 12'0 x 8'5 with gas fire set in corner timber fire surround with stone hearth.

Subject

  • countryside: Surrounded by countryside, the garden is a magnet to wildlife, which is a mixed blessing.

Preposition: by

  • countryside: Surrounded by countryside, the garden is a magnet to wildlife, which is a mixed blessing.
surround usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"surround." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/surround>

APA Style

surround. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/surround

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