circumscribe

cir·cum·scribe

 (sûr′kəm-skrīb′)

tr.v. cir·cum·scribed, cir·cum·scrib·ing, cir·cum·scribes

1. To draw a line around; encircle.

2.

a. To form or mark the limits of; delineate: The hedge circumscribes the property.

b. To limit narrowly; restrict: Their plans were circumscribed by a lack of money. See Synonyms at limit.

3.

a. To enclose (a polygon or polyhedron) within a configuration of lines, curves, or surfaces so that every vertex of the enclosed object is incident on the enclosing configuration.

b. To erect (such a configuration) around a polygon or polyhedron: circumscribe a circle around a square.

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[Middle English circumscriben, from Latin circumscrībere : circum-, circum- + scrībere, to write; see skrībh- in Indo-European roots.]

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cir′cum·scrib′a·ble adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

circumscribe

(ˌsɜːkəmˈskraɪb; ˈsɜːkəmˌskraɪb)

vb (tr)

1. to restrict within limits

2. to mark or set the bounds of

3. (Mathematics) to draw a geometric construction around (another construction) so that the two are in contact but do not intersect. Compare inscribe⁴

4. to draw a line round

[C15: from Latin circumscrībere, from circum- + scrībere to write]

ˌcircumˈscribable adj

ˌcircumˈscriber n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cir•cum•scribe

(ˈsɜr kəmˌskraɪb, ˌsɜr kəmˈskraɪb)

v.t. -scribed, -scrib•ing.

1. to draw a line around; encircle.

2. to enclose within bounds, esp. narrow ones; restrict.

3. to mark off; define; delimit.

4.

a. to draw (a figure) around another figure so as to touch as many points as possible.

b. (of a figure) to enclose (another figure) in this manner.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin circumscrībere=circum- circum- + scrībere to write]

cir`cum•scrib′a•ble, adj.

cir′cum•scrib`er, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

cir·cum·scribe

(sûr′kəm-skrīb′)

Geometry

To draw a figure around another figure so as to touch as many points as possible. A circle that is circumscribed around a triangle touches it at each of the triangle's three vertices.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

circumscribe

Past participle: circumscribed
Gerund: circumscribing

Imperative

circumscribe

circumscribe

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	circumscribe - draw a line around; "He drew a circle around the points" trace, describe, draw, line, delineate - make a mark or lines on a surface; "draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand" circumscribe - to draw a geometric figure around another figure so that the two are in contact but do not intersect
	2.	circumscribe - restrict or confine, "I limit you to two visits to the pub a day" confine, limit hold down - restrain; "please hold down the noise so that the neighbors can sleep" keep down, number - place a limit on the number of cap - restrict the number or amount of; "We had to cap the number of people we can accept into our club" curtail, restrict, curb, cut back - place restrictions on; "curtail drinking in school" minify, decrease, lessen - make smaller; "He decreased his staff" delimitate, demarcate, delimit - set, mark, or draw the boundaries of something content - satisfy in a limited way; "He contented himself with one glass of beer per day" ration - restrict the consumption of a relatively scarce commodity, as during war; "Bread was rationed during the siege of the city"
	3.	circumscribe - to draw a geometric figure around another figure so that the two are in contact but do not intersect geometry - the pure mathematics of points and lines and curves and surfaces trace, describe, draw, line, delineate - make a mark or lines on a surface; "draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand" circumscribe - draw a line around; "He drew a circle around the points"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

circumscribe

verb (Formal) restrict, limit, define, confine, restrain, delineate, hem in, demarcate, delimit, straiten The monarch's powers are circumscribed by Parliament.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

circumscribe

verb

To place a limit on:

confine, limit, restrict.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

obkroužitobmalovatohraničitomezitopsat

περιγράφω

kitsendamapiiritlemaümbritsema

rajatarajoittaaympyröidä

limiter

להגביללתחום

circoscriverecircoscrizione

circumscribe

[ˈsɜːkəmskraɪb] VT (lit) → circunscribir (fig) (= limit) → limitar, restringir

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

circumscribe

[ˈsɜː^rkəmskraɪb] vt (= limit) → limiter

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

circumscribe

vt

(Math) → einen Kreis umbeschreiben (+dat)

(= restrict) → eingrenzen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

circumscribe

[ˈsɜːkəmˌskraɪb] vt (limit) → limitare (Math) → circoscrivere

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995