surround

[suh-round]

verb (used with object)

1. to enclose on all sides; encompass.

   She was surrounded by reporters.

2. to form an enclosure around; encircle.

   A stone wall surrounds the estate.

3. to enclose (a body of troops, a fort or town, etc.) so as to cut off communication or retreat.

noun

1. something that surrounds, as the area, border, etc., around an object or central space.

   a tile surround for the shower stall.

2. environment or setting.

   The designer created a Persian surround for the new restaurant.

3. Hunting.

   1. a means of hunting in which wild animals are encircled and chased into a special spot that makes their escape impossible.

   2. the act of hunting by this means.

   3. the location encircled by hunters using this means.

surround

/ səˈraʊnd /

verb

1. to encircle or enclose or cause to be encircled or enclosed

2. to deploy forces on all sides of (a place or military formation), so preventing access or retreat

3. to exist around

   I dislike the people who surround her

noun

1. a border, esp the area of uncovered floor between the walls of a room and the carpet or around an opening or panel

2. 1. a method of capturing wild beasts by encircling the area in which they are believed to be

   2. the area so encircled

Other Word Forms

• presurround verb (used with object)
• surrounding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of surround¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English surounden “to inundate, submerge,” from Anglo-French surounder, Middle French s(o)ronder, from Late Latin superundāre “to overflow,” equivalent to Latin super- super- + undāre “to flood,” derivative of unda “wave” ( undulate ); current spelling by analysis as sur- ¹ + round ¹ (verb)

Word History and Origins

Origin of surround¹

C15 surrounden to overflow, from Old French suronder, from Late Latin superundāre, from Latin _super- + undāre to abound, from unda a wave

Example Sentences

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions notes uncertainty surrounding tariffs has reduced the activity of lenders as they wait for a solution to the trade dispute with the U.S.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions noted uncertainty surrounding tariffs has reduced the activity of lenders, borrowers, consumers and suppliers as they wait for a solution to the trade dispute with the U.S.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Although the star radiated roughly 100,000 times more light than the Sun, much of its glow was hidden by surrounding dust.

Read more on Science Daily

My biggest concern surrounding the use of AI for investing is that it will become the new version of “a friend with a tip.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, it was still “deployed in the area,” it said, and the military’s Arabic-language spokesman said in a statement that Gaza City was still surrounded by the army and that returning to it was dangerous.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• besiege 
• circle 
• envelop 
• inundate 
• ring