circumscribe

Advancedzipf 1.75

Pronunciation

/ˈsɜːkəmskraɪb/(SUR-kum-skribe)

Part of speech

verbformal

Chinese

限制；约束；在…周围画线

Definition

To restrict or limit something within bounds.

Word family

  • circumscription/ˌsɜːkəmˈskrɪpʃən/(n)限制
  • circumscribed/ˈsɜːkəmskraɪbd/(adj)受限的

Collocations

  • circumscribe freedom
  • circumscribed by
  • circumscribe authority
  • narrowly circumscribed

Examples

  1. 1.Their authority is circumscribed by strict regulations. (limited, restricted)
  2. 2.Cultural norms can circumscribe individual behavior. (constrain)

Synonyms

  • restrict/rɪˈstrɪkt/— limit, general
  • constrain/kənˈstreɪn/— force within limits
  • confine/kənˈfaɪn/— keep within boundaries

Etymology

circum- (around) + scribere (to write/draw) — draw a line around, setting limits