En·com·pass v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encompassed p. pr. & vb. n. Encompassing.] To circumscribe or go round so as to surround closely; to encircle; to inclose; to environ; as, a ring encompasses the finger; an army encompasses a city; a voyage encompassing the world.
A question may be encompassed with difficulty. --C. J. Smith.
The love of all thy sons encompass thee. --Tennyson.
Syn: -- To encircle; inclose; surround; include; environ; invest; hem in; shut up.
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encompassing
adj 1: broad in scope or content; "across-the-board pay increases";
"an all-embracing definition"; "blanket sanctions
against human-rights violators"; "an invention with
broad applications"; "a panoptic study of Soviet
nationality"- T.G.Winner; "granted him wide powers"
[syn: across-the-board, all-embracing, all-encompassing,
all-inclusive, blanket(a), broad, panoptic, wide]
2: closely encircling; "encompassing mountain ranges"; "the
surrounding countryside" [syn: encompassing(a), surrounding(a)]