girdle

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary

n. a belt or cord worn around the waist to hold clothes in place.

n. a belt, sash, or cord worn around the waist, often used in historical or religious contexts.

Español:faja

“The knight wore a leather girdle to hold his heavy sword.”

“The monk fastened his simple woollen robe with a knotted girdle made of hemp.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technology Technical

n. the widest part of a cut diamond where the metal setting holds the stone.

n. the narrow band around the widest part of a faceted gemstone, forming the boundary between the crown and the pavilion.

“The jeweller checked the girdle of the diamond for any small chips.”

“A diamond's girdle may be polished, faceted, or left matte, significantly affecting the stone's overall appearance in its setting.”

C1 · Advanced Literary

v. to surround or go all the way around something.

v. to encircle or surround something completely.

“Ancient stone walls girdle the old city to protect it from invaders.”

“A ring of dense pine forest girdles the mountain base, thinning out only as the elevation increases toward the rocky summit.”

C2 · Proficiency Technical

v. to cut a ring through the bark of a tree to stop it from growing or to kill it.

v. to cut through the bark and cambium in a ring around a tree trunk, typically to kill the tree or promote fruiting.

“The farmer decided to girdle the invasive trees to clear the land.”

“If you girdle a tree too deeply, you sever the vessels that transport nutrients, effectively starving the root system.”