surround
[suh-round]
- to enclose on all sides; encompass: She was surrounded by reporters.
- to form an enclosure round; encircle: A stone wall surrounds the estate.
- to enclose (a body of troops, a fort or town, etc.) so as to cut off communication or retreat.
- something that surrounds, as the area, border, etc., around an object or central space: a tile surround for the shower stall.
- environment or setting: The designer created a Persian surround for the new restaurant.
- Hunting.
- a means of hunting in which wild animals are encircled and chased into a special spot that makes their escape impossible.
- the act of hunting by this means.
- the location encircled by hunters using this means.
Origin of surround
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for surround
Contemporary Examples
Think Afghanistan and pieces of all the countries that surround it, including and especially Iran.
The first potential scientific secret to improving your bedroom experience: surround yourself with men.
Brittany has decided that her husband and family will, Nov. 1, in her own bed, surround her that day.
Living as they do in the heart of the volatile Caucasus, Georgians are only too aware of the fires that surround them.
In On Saudi Arabia, journalist Karen Elliott House describes the odd silence that seems to surround the House of Saud.
Historical Examples
"Surround her with a bodyguard, if you like," said the General.
The Bacillus of BeautyHarriet Stark
And as you can see, we surround ourselves with all means of enlightenment.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
I shall place it in my room and surround it with fresh flowers.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
It was Mrs. Vansittart's pleasant habit to surround herself with every comfort.
Roden's CornerHenry Seton Merriman
They must surround me, you observe, and therefore they are here.
Barnaby RudgeCharles Dickens
surround
- to encircle or enclose or cause to be encircled or enclosed
- to deploy forces on all sides of (a place or military formation), so preventing access or retreat
- to exist aroundI dislike the people who surround her
- mainly British a border, esp the area of uncovered floor between the walls of a room and the carpet or around an opening or panel
- mainly US
- a method of capturing wild beasts by encircling the area in which they are believed to be
- the area so encircled
Word Origin
C15 surrounden to overflow, from Old French suronder, from Late Latin superundāre, from Latin super- + undāre to abound, from unda a wave
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for surround
v.
early 15c., "to flood, overflow," from Middle French soronder "to overflow, abound, surpass, dominate," from Late Latin superundare "overflow," from Latin super "over" (see super-) + undare "to flow in waves," from unda "wave" (see water (n.); and cf. abound). Sense of "to shut in on all sides" first recorded 1610s, influenced by figurative meaning in French of "dominate," and by sound association with round. Related: Surrounded; surrounding.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper