encircles

Encircles is the present tense, third-person singular form of the verb encircle. It means to surround something on all sides or to form a circle around it. The action can be literal, as when a wall, fence, or group physically surrounds an area, or more figurative, as when one idea or influence surrounds a concept or sphere of activity.

Etymology and related forms: Encircle is built from the prefix en- (to cause to be) and circle, which comes from the Latin circulus via Old French cercle. The noun form related to the verb is encirclement, describing the act or state of being surrounded. The past tense and past participle are encircled.

Usage and contexts: In everyday language, one might say a garden is encircled by a path, or a device encircles a target on a screen. In military and strategic contexts, encirclement refers to surrounding opposing forces with the aim of cutting off retreat and supplies. In urban planning or geography, a ring road or beltway can encircle a city, forming a boundary or route that encloses the urban area. The term can also appear in literature and rhetoric to describe ideas or influences that surround or envelop a topic.

Examples: The defense forces encircles the city to prevent escape. A leather band encircles the wrist. The diagram encircles the outlier points to highlight them.

See also: encirclement, circle, ring, surrounding.