encapsulate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to express the main meaning of something briefly and clearly

   The final paragraph encapsulates the book's argument.

2. 2
   verb

   to enclose something in a capsule, container, or protective layer

   The coating encapsulates the medicine until it reaches the intestine.

3. 3
   verb

   to bundle data and behavior behind a controlled interface in programming

   The object encapsulates its state so callers cannot mutate it directly.

From en- + capsule + -ate. Capsule comes from Latin capsula (small box), so encapsulate literally means to put into a small case.

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