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environ

verb en·vi·ron \ in-ˈvī-rən , -ˈvī(-ə)rn \

Definition of environ

transitive verb

: encircle, surround

See environ defined for kids

Examples of environ in a Sentence

a decaying, impoverished city environed by affluent suburbs

Recent Examples of environ from the Web

Even though Hollywood makes L.A. and environs a celebrity magnet, not all the big real estate action plays out within the City of Angels.

— neal j. leitereg and lauren beale, latimes.com, "Hot Property: Fanning out across the nation," 9 Sep. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of environ

Middle English envirounen, from Anglo-French enviruner, from envirun around, from en in (from Latin in) + virun circle, from virer to turn — more at ¹veer

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

environ Synonyms

Synonyms

circle, compass, embrace, encircle, enclose (also inclose), encompass, gird, girdle, ring, surround, wreathe;

Related Words

circumscribe, close in, cordon (off), fence (in), hem (in), wall;

beset, besiege, entrench (also intrench), invest, swarm;

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for environ

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Examples: environ in a Sentence