encompass

1 to form a circle around <a necklace of sapphire-blue lakes encompasses the town> Synonyms circle, compass, embrace, encircle, enclose (also inclose), surround, environ, gird, girdle, ring, wreatheRelated Words circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall; beset, besiege, entrench (also intrench), invest, swarm

2 to have as part of a whole <textbooks on American history are now likely to encompass its social history as well as its political and military history> Synonyms carry, comprehend, contain, embrace, include, entail, involve, number, subsume, take inRelated Words comprise, consist (of); bracket; have, hold, own, possess; admit, receive; compose, constitute, form, make; assimilate, embody, incorporate, integrateNear Antonyms ban, bar, debar, preclude, prevent, prohibit; deny, refuse, reject; eliminate, except, rule out; lose, mislay, misplaceAntonyms exclude, leave (out), miss out [British], omit

3 to surround or cover closely <a fog of mystery has long encompassed this fraternal organization, which is known for its secret rituals> Synonyms bosom, bower, circumfuse, cocoon, embosom, embower, embrace, enclose (also inclose), enfold, enshroud, enswathe, envelop, enwrap, invest, involve, lap, mantle, muffle, shroud, swathe, veil, wrapRelated Words curtain, drape; embed (also imbed), encase; swaddle; blanket, overlay, overspread; camouflage, cloak, disguise, mask; circle, encircle, enlace, enwindNear Antonyms bare, denude, expose, strip