- to swallow up; overwhelm
- to plunge, as into a gulf
Origin of engulf
en- + gulf
Snow has engulfed this house.
To engulf is defined as to completely cover, surround, or overwhelm.
When snow completely covers the ground, this is an example of a time when snow engulfs the ground.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"engulf." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/engulf>.
APA Style
engulf. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/engulf
engulf
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"engulf." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/engulf>.
APA Style
engulf. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/engulf
engulf
transitive verb
en·gulfed, en·gulf·ing, en·gulfsTo swallow up or overwhelm by or as if by overflowing and enclosing: The spring tide engulfed the beach houses.
Related Forms:
- en·gulf′ment
noun
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"engulf." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/engulf>.
APA Style
engulf. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/engulf
Verb
(third-person singular simple present engulfs, present participle engulfing, simple past and past participle engulfed)
Origin
en- + gulf
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"engulf." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/engulf>.
APA Style
engulf. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/engulf
Sentence Examples
- When new antigens enter the body, white blood cells (called macrophages) engulf them, process the information contained in the antigens, and send it to the T-cells so that an immune system response can be mobilized.
- Engulf yourself in this mystical, legendary land.
- When these children are exposed to house dust mites, animal proteins, fungi, or other potential allergens, they produce a type of antibody that is intended to engulf and destroy the foreign materials.
- When phagocytes encounter an invading organism, they surround and engulf it in order to destroy it.
- Tops that hit at the waist can break up a petite frame and long flowing tunics can engulf a smaller woman's body.
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