surround

[ suh-round ]

/ səˈraʊnd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR surround ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

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.

noun

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.

Nearby words

Origin of surround

1400–50; late Middle English surounden to inundate, submerge < Anglo-French surounder, Middle French s(o)ronder < Late Latin superundāre to overflow, equivalent to Latin super- super- + undāre to flood, derivative of unda wave (see undulate); current spelling by analysis as sur-¹ + round¹ (v.)

Related formspre·sur·round, verb (used with object)un·sur·round·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for surround

Think Afghanistan and pieces of all the countries that surround it, including and especially Iran.
ISIS Targets Afghanistan Just as the U.S. Quits|Sami Yousafzai, Christopher Dickey|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The first potential scientific secret to improving your bedroom experience: surround yourself with men.
Was 2014 the Year Science Discovered The Female Orgasm?|Samantha Allen|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Brittany has decided that her husband and family will, Nov. 1, in her own bed, surround her that day.
On Her Own Terms: Why Brittany Maynard Has Chosen to Die|Gene Robinson|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Living as they do in the heart of the volatile Caucasus, Georgians are only too aware of the fires that surround them.
ISIS on Georgia’s Mind|Anna Nemtsova|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In On Saudi Arabia, journalist Karen Elliott House describes the odd silence that seems to surround the House of Saud.
Will Saudi Arabia Execute Guest Workers for 'Witchcraft'?|Michael Schulson|March 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The hills that surround Florence were the boundary of their horizon.
The Red Lily, Complete|Anatole France
They intended, when he left the meeting, to surround him in the middle of the road.
Sober by Act of Parliament|Fred A. McKenzie
It would necessarily be several days before relief could possibly arrive, and utter despair seemed to surround them.
History of the Donner Party|C.F. McGlashan
Shall we let them live a few hours yet to realize the horrors that surround them?
Kathleen's Diamonds|Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller
Those, however, who had remained at home managed to cut off and surround the soldiers, one of whom was killed in the fray.
A Pilgrimage to Nejd, Vol. 1 [of 2]|Anne Blunt

British Dictionary definitions for surround

surround

/ (səˈraʊnd) /

verb (tr)

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

noun

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

Derived Formssurrounding, adjective

Word Origin for surround

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for surround

surround

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.