top definitions
related content
examples
british

encircle

[ en-sur-kuh l ]

/ ɛnˈsɜr kəl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR encircle ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), en·cir·cled, en·cir·cling.

to form a circle around; surround; encompass: to encircle an enemy.

to make a circling movement around; make the circuit of.

Origin of encircle

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at en-¹, circle

OTHER WORDS FROM encircle

en·cir·cle·ment, noun un·en·cir·cled, adjective

Words nearby encircle

enchondrosarcoma, enchorial, encina, encincture, encipher, encircle, encke, encke's comet, encke's division, encl., enclasp

Example sentences from the Web for encirclement

The report however claimed that “in the last two weeks, only four groups of seven to 18 people have left the encirclement.”

Ukrainian Troops Retreat From Russian Border, Leaving 100 Kilometers Open to Invasion |Pierre Vaux |August 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He thought about how terribly vulnerable to attack Pallastown seemed, even with its encirclement of outriding guard stations.

The Planet Strappers |Raymond Zinke Gallun
Little John Aylmer answered with an ecstatic chuckle of delight, and wriggled hurriedly into the encirclement of his friend's arm.

The Pursuit |Frank (Frank Mackenzie) Savile
He reached the misty outskirts of the mass and began its encirclement, drawing a little nearer to its center with every circuit.

Tam O' The Scoots |Edgar Wallace

A Turco-Korean alliance would have meant for China a sort of encirclement that might have grave consequences.

A history of China., [3d ed. rev. and enl.] |Wolfram Eberhard
The union of these ambitions in a common course of action, duly planned, is what we call the "policy of encirclement."

The Kaiser's Memoirs |William II, German Emperor

British Dictionary definitions for encirclement

encircle

/ (ɪnˈsɜːkəl) /

verb

(tr) to form a circle around; enclose within a circle; surround

Derived forms of encircle

encirclement, noun encircling, adjective