Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To draw a line around; encircle.
- transitive verb To form or mark the limits of; delineate.
- transitive verb To limit narrowly; restrict: synonym: limit.
- transitive verb 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.
- transitive verb To erect (such a configuration) around a polygon or polyhedron.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To write or inscribe around.
- To mark out certain bounds or limits for; inclose within certain limits; limit; bound; confine; restrain.
- In geometry, to draw around so as to touch at as many points as possible.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb rare to write or engrave around.
- transitive verb To inclose within a certain limit; to hem in; to surround; to bound; to confine; to restrain.
- transitive verb (Geom.) To draw a line around so as to touch at certain points without cutting. See
Inscribe , 5.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb To
draw a linearound ; toencircle . - verb To
limit narrowly; torestrict . - verb geometry To draw the
smallest circle or higher-dimensionalsphere that has (a polyhedron, polygon, etc.) in its interior.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb restrict or confine,
- verb to draw a geometric figure around another figure so that the two are in contact but do not intersect
- verb draw a line around
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Reveals that the CIA sought to "circumscribe" a policy of humane detainee treatment "so as to limit its application to the CIA."
American Torture Valtin 2009
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Reveals that the CIA sought to "circumscribe" a policy of humane detainee treatment "so as to limit its application to the CIA."
American Torture 2009
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And he used the leverage derived from favorable economic conditions to circumscribe political freedoms.
The Return Daniel Treisman 2011
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And he used the leverage derived from favorable economic conditions to circumscribe political freedoms.
The Return Daniel Treisman 2011
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A different picture emerges: the US has tended to circumscribe IP rights and subject them to more aggressive antitrust scrutiny than the EU.
IPSC: final plenary Rebecca Tushnet 2009
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Empiricism merely served to circumscribe the debate, “boxing out” ethics proper.
Think Progress » Fox Thinks Winter Chill Disproves Global Warming; Experts Disagree 2010
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Climate control is seamlessly integrated and hardly noticeable as air diffusers circumscribe the house with fully integrated track lighting, eliminating unsightly air vents and making credible use of space.
Ellsworth Residence by Michael P. Johnson Design Studio 2009
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If you insist that it fit with your own limited ability to circumscribe reality then you end up like JWs and other Gnostics.
Blind Faith? 2009
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One, they should circumscribe the role of the ombudsman, preferably to higher levels of government, and focus on increasing transparency.
Getting a Grip on Indian Corruption Shruti Rajagopalan 2011
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Empiricism merely served to circumscribe the debate, “boxing out” ethics proper.
Think Progress » Fox Thinks Winter Chill Disproves Global Warming; Experts Disagree 2010
slumry commented on the word circumscribe
to draw a line around
June 19, 2007
slumry commented on the word circumscribe
to draw a line around
June 19, 2007
4781 commented on the word circumscribe
The examples don't appear to involve the word "circumscribe". Perhaps I have misunderstood the purpose of that section?
March 2, 2010
yarb commented on the word circumscribe
Weird!
March 2, 2010
bilby commented on the word circumscribe
John et al are tinkering under the hood of the examples engine. Expect lots of steam 'n' cussin' for the time being.
March 2, 2010
john commented on the word circumscribe
Yep, the examples engine is in the shop for repairs. When it comes out, it'll drive like the General Lee.
Which makes Tony Cooter, I think.
March 2, 2010