encircling

Everyday

1. Forming a circle around something; surrounding it on all sides. tree →
2. Moving around something in a circle. tree →

In the lessons

In geography, encircling hills or walls surround a town; in history, armies encircled a city in a siege; in maths and art, drawing a ring around something; in stories, the encircling dark adds danger; phrases: «the encircling hills», «encircling the city».

Examples

• The encircling mountains protected the valley. tree →
• The children made a ring, encircling the maypole. tree →
• Wolves were encircling the camp. tree →
• A wall encircling the old town kept enemies out. tree →
• The moat encircling the castle was full of water. tree →
• Clouds were encircling the mountain top. tree →
• They had bound themselves fast to each other, so that they looked like one large body on the slippery plains of ice encircling the deep abyss. tree →

Note

From encircle; drop e before -ing. Similar: surrounding, ringing. Noun: encirclement.