cercado

Cercado is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese with multiple related meanings. As a noun, it denotes an enclosure or fence—a boundary surrounding an area to contain people or animals. It can also refer to the fence itself or to a defined domain, such as a yard or pasture. As an adjective, cercado describes something that is fenced or surrounded by a barrier. The word derives from cercar, to surround or enclose.

In geography, Cercado de Lima, often shortened to Cercado, is the central district of Lima Province in Peru. It encompasses the historic centre of Lima and hosts many government buildings, plazas, and colonial-era architecture. The Historic Centre of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies within this district.

In rural and agricultural contexts, cercado frequently describes a fenced area used to contain livestock, delimit pastures, or partition property. The term is commonly employed in phrases such as cercado ganadero (livestock enclosure) or areas of property that are fenced for security or management purposes.

Overall, cercado centers on the concept of enclosure and boundary, whether in everyday language, geography, or agricultural use.