enclosure

American  

[en-kloh-zher] / ɛnˈkloʊ ʒər /

Also inclosure

noun

1. something that encloses, as a fence or wall.

2. something that is enclosed in or along with something else, as a photograph sent in a letter.

3. an area, such as a plot of ground or an indoor surface, surrounded by a fence, rope, or other barrier.

4. the separation and appropriation of land by means of a fence.

5. an act or instance of enclosing.

6. the state of being enclosed.

7. Roman Catholic Church. the part of a monastery or convent canonically separated or restricted as the living quarters of the religious, which a person may leave only with special permission or gain entrance to by special dispensation.

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enclosure British  

/ ɪnˈkləʊʒə /

noun

1. the act of enclosing or state of being enclosed

2. a region or area enclosed by or as if by a fence

3. 1. the act of appropriating land, esp common land, by putting a hedge or other barrier around it

   2. history such acts as were carried out at various periods in England, esp between the 12th and 14th centuries and finally in the 18th and 19th centuries

4. a fence, wall, etc, that serves to enclose

5. something, esp a supporting document, enclosed within an envelope or wrapper, esp together with a letter

6. a section of a sports ground, racecourse, etc, allotted to certain spectators

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Other Word Forms

• nonenclosure noun
• preenclosure noun
• semienclosure noun

Etymology

Origin of enclosure

First recorded in 1450–1500; enclose + -ure

Example Sentences

Satellite imagery most notably showed the destruction of two radomes - protective enclosures for such sensitive equipment.

From BBC

He worked on the rope-making crew in the compound next to Phillips and each noon they managed to exchange a few words through the barbed wire separating the two enclosures.

From Literature

Lights, in bird cage enclosures, still hang above the audience seating area, which has room for about 250 guests.

From Los Angeles Times

There are nine beavers in the enclosure but many of the kits were born at Wallington, meaning the team was keen to check on the health of the youngsters and fit them with microchips.

From BBC

We burn the paper in a screened enclosure and it is fairly efficient, but it’s impossible to get all the food particles off wrapping paper, so when it’s burned the food particles burn with it.

From Literature

Related Words

• cage
• courtyard
• pen