encapsulate

verb

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en·cap·su·late | \ in-ˈkap-sə-ˌlāt

, en- \

encapsulated; encapsulating

Definition of encapsulate

transitive verb

1 : to enclose in or as if in a capsule a pilot encapsulated in the cockpit

2 : epitomize, summarize encapsulate an era in an aphorism

intransitive verb

: to become encapsulated

Other Words from encapsulate Synonyms Did you know? More Example Sentences Learn More About encapsulate

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Encapsulate and its related noun, "capsule," derive from "capsula," a diminutive form of the Latin noun capsa, meaning "box." "Capsa" also gave us our noun "case" (the container kind; the legal sense has a different origin). The original sense of encapsulate, meaning "to enclose something in a capsule," first appeared in the late 19th century. Its extended meaning, "to give a summary or synopsis of something," plays on the notion of a capsule as something compact, self-contained, and often easily digestible (as in a capsule of medicine). There is also a verb "capsule," which is more or less synonymous with "encapsulate."

Examples of encapsulate in a Sentence

The contaminated material should be encapsulated and removed. can you encapsulate the president's speech in about a paragraph?

Recent Examples on the Web Altogether, the albums convey an effort to encapsulate the entirety of an emotional experience, in all its complexity and contradictions. — Elizabeth Nonemaker, baltimoresun.com, 1 Oct. 2021 How can one term encapsulate the experiences of people with very different ties to dozens of countries? — New York Times, 28 Sep. 2021 The researchers determined that the foam could be used to encapsulate dyes that dissolve easily in solution as well as those that do not—hinting that the froth could carry a variety of drugs with a range of properties. — Raleigh Mcelvery, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Sep. 2021 The Scent of Marihuana soaps encapsulate the aroma of the sativa plant, offering a fresh herbal scent infused with the brand’s favored woody notes. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2021 Exploring dual identities through Asian and American dessert From ube cakes to mochi muffins, bakeries that sweetly encapsulate growing up Asian and American have been popping up more in recent years. — Terry Tang, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2021 From ube cakes to mochi muffins, bakeries that sweetly encapsulate growing up Asian and American have been popping up more in recent years. — Terry Tang, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Aug. 2021 From ube cakes to mochi muffins, bakeries that sweetly encapsulate growing up Asian and American have been popping up more in recent years. — NBC News, 26 Aug. 2021 The two initiatives encapsulate Mr. Adams’s self-characterization as a blue-collar candidate: Make the streets and the subway safe and reliable for New York’s working-class residents. — New York Times, 8 Aug. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'encapsulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.