circumscribed

/ˈsɜːrkəmskraɪbd/

adjective

  1. Limited or restricted within clear boundaries.

    C1

    formal

    • "The project has a narrowly circumscribed purpose."B2
    • "Her authority was circumscribed by strict regulations."C1
    • "Her opportunities were circumscribed by her circumstances."B2

verb

  1. Past tense and past participle of circumscribe: to limit or restrict something.

    C1

    transitive; irregular: circumscribe, circumscribed, circumscribedformal

    • "The law circumscribed what companies could do."B2
    • "The new policy circumscribes the freedom of the press."B2
    • "His responsibilities were circumscribed by the terms of the contract."C1

  2. To draw a line around a shape or figure.

    C2

    transitivetechnical

    • "A circle circumscribed the triangle."B2
    • "The polygon was circumscribed by a circle passing through all its vertices."C2

Collocations

narrowly circumscribedcircumscribed rolecircumscribed authoritycircumscribed area

Word family

circumscribecircumscription