circumscription

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌsɝkəmˈskrɪpʃən/ UK /ˌsɜːkəmˈskrɪpʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #663031

Meanings

1

noun
the act of drawing a boundary around something or limiting its extent

Strict circumscription of the emergency power prevented it from becoming permanent.
2

noun
a boundary, enclosing line, or area defined by such a boundary

The wall marked the old circumscription of the monastery grounds.
3

noun
the definition of which organisms belong to a particular taxonomic group

New genetic evidence changed the circumscription of the plant family.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the act of drawing a... limitation restrictiondelimitation

2 noun · a boundary, enclosing line,... boundary perimeter enclosure

3 noun · the definition of which... taxonomic scopedelimitation

Opposites

expansion extension

Word family

Derived forms circumscriptionalincircumscriptionrecircumscription

Related forms circumscribe circumference

Etymology

From Latin circumscriptio, 'a drawing around, boundary, or limitation,' from circumscribere, 'to draw a line around,' built from circum, 'around,' + scribere, 'to write or draw.' The taxonomic sense treats a group as an area whose membership is bounded.

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# circumscription

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌsɝkəmˈskrɪpʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌsɜːkəmˈskrɪpʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 663031

## Meanings
1. the act of drawing a boundary around something or limiting its extent
2. a boundary, enclosing line, or area defined by such a boundary
3. the definition of which organisms belong to a particular taxonomic group

## Examples
- Strict circumscription of the emergency power prevented it from becoming permanent.
- The wall marked the old circumscription of the monastery grounds.
- New genetic evidence changed the circumscription of the plant family.

## Synonyms
- limitation
- restriction
- boundary
- delimitation

## Antonyms
- expansion
- extension

## Derived Forms
- circumscriptional
- incircumscription
- recircumscription

## Related Forms
- circumscribe
- circumference

## Etymology
From Latin circumscriptio, 'a drawing around, boundary, or limitation,' from circumscribere, 'to draw a line around,' built from circum, 'around,' + scribere, 'to write or draw.' The taxonomic sense treats a group as an area whose membership is bounded.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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