
Circumscribe
To draw a line around; to enclose or surround; or to confine within defined bounds.
verbCircumscribe
To draw a line around; to enclose or surround; or to confine within defined bounds.
verb
Imagine This
The teacher punished the naughty student by drawing a circle in the playground, and instructed him to confine (stay) inside the circle for one hour after school.
Sounds Like
SUR-kum-SKRAHYB
Looks Like
circum-scribe (circum + scribe); resembles the compound of circum- meaning around and scribe meaning to write
Remember This
Circ- relates to circle; circumscribe shares roots with circumference and circumnavigate, all meaning around or enclosing.
Other Forms
Connect With
enclose, surround, bound, restrict
Note
Be careful not to confuse circumscribe with circumcise (unrelated) or circumnavigate (to go around). Circumscribe means to draw a boundary around or to confine within limits.
