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

• surrounding adjective
• presurround verb (used with object)

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

With his surrounding players restarting the chant, Donald was asked what his response would be if the question was posed from the European tour.

From BBC

He is less impressed with the razzamatazz surrounding the tech billionaires and their largesse.

From BBC

"People in poorer areas are surrounded by junk food advertising, more unhealthy takeaways, and face bigger barriers to buying healthy food," she says.

From BBC

In a measure of the tension surrounding the vote, bomb scares were reported at polling stations in Italy, Romania, Spain and the US.

From BBC

But as tiny as Muir may have felt in that moment, surrounded by a record crowd for a women's rugby union match, Mitchell is already looking to the new heights his team can reach.

From BBC

Related Words

• besiege 
• circle 
• envelop 
• inundate 
• ring