circumscribe - v. to limit something vt. 约束,限定;在……上画圈;包围;(几何学)外接; 划定…范围;限制;
1a: to constrict (see CONSTRICT sense 1) the range or activity of definitely and clearly
his role was carefully circumscribed
1b: to define or mark off carefully
a study of plant species in a circumscribed area
2a: to draw a line around
circumscribed the misspelled words
2b: to surround by or as if by a boundary
fields circumscribed by tall trees
3: to construct or be constructed around (a geometrical figure) so as to touch as many points as possible
a circle circumscribing a square
Did you know?
To circumscribe something is to limit its size, activity, or range, but the range of influence of the Latin ancestors of circumscribe knows no bounds. Circumscribe comes via Middle English from the Latin verb circumscribere (which roughly translates as “to draw a circle around”), which in turn comes from circum-, meaning “circle,” and scribere, meaning “to write or draw.” Among the many descendants of circum- are circuit, circumference, circumnavigate, circumspect, circumstance, and circumvent. Scribere gave us such words as scribe and scribble, as well as ascribe, describe, and transcribe, among others.
Synonyms
cap,confine,hold down,limit,restrict
Example Sentences
1 The circle is circumscribed by a square.
2 circumscribed his enthusiasm so as not to make the losing side feel worse
3 Too often the clarity of hindsight can become the enemy of real drama; the more phenomenal the legend, the more inevitable and even circumscribed their success can seem.
4 These Black artists are asserting their right to public space at a time when that space is still circumscribed by race, gender and class — and can be fatal to occupy.
5 Their movements have been severely circumscribed since the laws came into effect.