ENGLISH
REFERENCE

enclave

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈɑnˌkɫeɪv// UK //ˈɛnkleɪv// en·clave

n. a small area or group that is different from the larger area surrounding it. You often use this to describe a neighborhood where people speak a different language or have a different culture than the rest of the city.

n. a distinct territorial, cultural, or social unit enclosed within a larger, foreign territory. In technical contexts, refers to a protected execution environment that isolates sensitive data from the rest of the system.


SIMPLE

The neighborhood is a quiet enclave of artists in the busy city.

CONTEXTUAL

The diplomatic enclave is heavily guarded and contains the embassies of several different nations.

COMPLEX

The software creates a secure enclave within the processor to ensure that even if the operating system is compromised, the user's private encryption keys remain inaccessible to attackers.

Origin

Borrowed from French enclave, from Middle French enclave (“enclave”), deverbal of enclaver (“to inclose”), from Old French enclaver (“to inclose, lock in”), from Vulgar Latin *inclāvāre (“to lock in”), from in + Latin clavis (“key”) or clavus (“nail, bolt”). Compare inlock.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'of' to describe the contents or character of the area.

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