Word
surround
Phoneticssur·round
US/sɝˈaʊnd/
UK/səɹˈaʊnd/
Definitions
01to be all around
v. to be everywhere around something or someone.
v. to encircle or encompass something on all sides.
“Tall trees surround the lake, making it feel very private.”
“The medieval city walls once completely surrounded the old town, protecting the inhabitants from external threats for centuries.”
02to trap or hem in
v. to move around someone or something so they cannot escape.
v. to enclose or confine a person or group on all sides to prevent movement or escape.
“The police surrounded the building and told the suspect to come out.”
“The troops moved quickly to surround the enemy position, cutting off all potential supply lines and escape routes before nightfall.”
03a border or frame
n. a border or decorative frame that goes around something, like a fireplace.
n. a decorative or functional border or casing that encircles an object.
“They chose a modern marble surround for the new fireplace.”
“The architect specified a brushed-metal surround for the doorway to complement the industrial aesthetic of the gallery space.”
British English
Usage
Commonly used in the context of home fixtures like 'fireplace surround'.
Real-World Examples
“I found myself surrounded by thousands of young people all singing the same songs, swaying to the same rhythm, and participating in the same moment.” “Carolina Molina says she was out delivering business cards in Falls Church, Virginia, when she saw ICE agents, who then surrounded her car.” “In July, settlers also surrounded a Palestinian home in the village of Jalud, near Qusra, for more than two weeks.” “If you’re in a field and surrounded by animals, their behaviour often changes.” Etymology
From Middle English sourrounden (“to submerge, overflow”), from Middle French souronder, suronder, from Late Latin superundō, from super + undō (“to rise in waves”), from unda (“wave”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/surround