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

Derived Forms

• surˈrounding, adjective

Other Words From

• pre·sur·round 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

Before the screening, Rachel Mason, a close friend of Hutchins who filmed a documentary about the making of Rust, recalled how difficult it was to complete the movie with all the controversy surrounding it.

From BBC

Right to the end, he was surrounded by news.

From BBC

However, there are still many mysteries surrounding this process.

From Science Daily

The nature of this interaction leads to infinite possibilities for light to exist and propagate, or travel, through its surrounding environment.

From Science Daily

They surround the tumor nests and may prevent immune cells such as T cells from invading the tumor.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• besiege
• circle
• envelop
• hem in
• inundate
• ring