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surround

Syllabification: (sur·round)
Pronunciation: /səˈround/

Translate surround | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of surround

verb

[with object] (usually be surrounded)
  • be all around (someone or something):the hotel is surrounded by its own gardens figurativehe loves to surround himself with family and friends
  • (of troops, police, etc.) encircle (someone or something) so as to cut off communication or escape:troops surrounded the parliament building
  • be associated with:the killings were surrounded by controversy

noun

  • a thing that forms a border or edging around an object:an oak fireplace surround
  • (usually surrounds) the area encircling something; surroundings:the beautiful surrounds of Moosehead Lake

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'overflow'): from Old French souronder, from late Latin superundare, from super- 'over' + undare 'to flow' (from unda 'a wave'); later associated with round. Current senses of the noun date from the late 19th century

surround in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of surround in the British & World English dictionary
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