enclose

[ en-klohz ]

verb (used with object)

, en·closed, en·clos·ing.

1. to shut or hem in; close in on all sides:

   a valley enclosed by tall mountains.

   Synonyms: girdle, ring, encompass, encircle

2. to surround, as with a fence or wall:

   to enclose land.

   Synonyms: girdle, ring, encompass, encircle

3. to insert in the same envelope, package, or the like:

   He enclosed a check.

   A book was sent with the bill enclosed.

4. to hold or contain:

   His letter enclosed a check.

5. Roman Catholic Church.
   1. to restrict to the enclosure of a monastery or convent.
   2. (of a monastery, convent, church, etc.) to establish or fix the boundary of an enclosure.

enclose

/ ɪnˈkləʊz /

verb

1. to close; hem in; surround
2. to surround (land) with or as if with a fence
3. to put in an envelope or wrapper, esp together with a letter
4. to contain or hold

Derived Forms

• enˈclosable, adjective
• enˈcloser, noun

Other Words From

• en·clos·a·ble adjective
• en·clos·er noun
• pre·en·close verb (used with object) preenclosed preenclosing
• re·en·close verb (used with object) reenclosed reenclosing

Word History and Origins

Origin of enclose¹

First recorded in 1275–1325, enclose is from the Middle English word enclosen, inclosen. See in- ¹, close

Example Sentences

Three siblings died in 1904, all from typhoid, the kind of disease that would race through an enclosed population of vulnerable children.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Kench-Andrews said the club currently had neighbours on one side, but being "enclosed with housing" would make it much harder.

From BBC

Her lab is seeking new funding from NASA, for example, to study the effect of CO₂ on people confined to enclosed spaces, such as inside of space capsules and submarines.

From Science Daily

If you see “final notice,” “urgent” or “benefit disbursement enclosed,” don’t even bother opening the envelope.

From Los Angeles Times

Imagine cohabitating with eight other people in an enclosed area the size of a large airplane.

From Salon

Related Words

• block off
• encase
• encircle
• encompass
• hem in
• insert
• wrap