circumscribe

[ sur-kuhm-skrahyb, sur-kuhm-skrahyb ]
/ ˈsɜr kəmˌskraɪb, ˌsɜr kəmˈskraɪb /

verb (used with object), cir·cum·scribed, cir·cum·scrib·ing.

to draw a line around; encircle: to circumscribe a city on a map.
to enclose within bounds; limit or confine, especially narrowly: Her social activities are circumscribed by school regulations.
to mark off; define; delimit: to circumscribe the area of a science.
Geometry.
  1. to draw (a figure) around another figure so as to touch as many points as possible.
  2. (of a figure) to enclose (another figure) in this manner.

Origin of circumscribe

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin circumscrībere, equivalent to circum- circum- + scrībere to write

SYNONYMS FOR circumscribe

2 restrict, restrain, check, hamper, hinder.

OTHER WORDS FROM circumscribe

Words nearby circumscribe

circumocular, circumpolar, circumradius, circumrotate, circumscissile, circumscribe, circumscribed, circumscribed myxedema, circumscribed scleroderma, circumscript, circumscription

Words related to circumscribed

delineate, encircle, bar, outline, trammel, girdle, bound, surround, hamper, restrict, define, restrain, enclose, limit, environ, confine, encompass, demarcate, prelimit

Example sentences from the Web for circumscribed

British Dictionary definitions for circumscribed

circumscribe
/ (ˌsɜːkəmˈskraɪb, ˈsɜːkəmˌskraɪb) /

verb (tr)

to restrict within limits
to mark or set the bounds of
to draw a geometric construction around (another construction) so that the two are in contact but do not intersect Compare inscribe (def. 4)
to draw a line round

Derived forms of circumscribe

circumscribable, adjective circumscriber, noun

Word Origin for circumscribe

C15: from Latin circumscrībere, from circum- + scrībere to write

Medical definitions for circumscribed

circumscribed
[ sûr′kəm-skrībd′ ]

adj.

Bounded by a line; limited or confined.

Scientific definitions for circumscribed

circumscribe
[ sûr′kəm-skrīb′ ]

To draw a figure around another figure so as to touch as many points as possible. A circle that is circumscribed around a triangle touches it at each of the triangle's three vertices.