surrounding
adj. · n. · v.-
1 located all around (adj.) B1 Intermediatedescribes things that are near or all around a specific place.
positioned on all sides of a central point; used attributively before a noun.
ExampleThe hotel offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
ExampleThe surrounding countryside remained largely untouched by the industrial developments that had transformed the nearby city center.
UsageThis adjective almost always appears before the noun it describes.
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2 environment or area (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe place and conditions that you are in.
the environment or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
ExampleIt took a few days for the cat to get used to its new surroundings.
ExampleThe architect designed the building to blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings, using local stone and timber.
UsageUsually plural ('surroundings') when referring to a general environment.
PitfallHe quickly adapted to his new surrounding.He quickly adapted to his new surroundings.When referring to an environment or area, the noun is almost always used in the plural form 'surroundings'.
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3 the act of encircling (v.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe action of being or moving all the way around something.
the present participle of 'surround', indicating the state of encircling or encompassing a subject.
ExampleThe police are surrounding the building to make sure no one leaves.
ExampleBy surrounding the enemy forces, the army managed to secure a surrender without further conflict.
UsageUsed as a continuous verb form or a gerund.