Circumscribing Word Meaning

late Middle English: from Latin circumscribere, from circum ‘around’ + scribere ‘write’

restrict (something) within limits

restrict something within limits

• the minister's powers are circumscribed both by tradition and the organization of local government

draw (a figure) round another, touching it at points but not cutting it

draw figure round another, touching it at points but not cutting it

• if a hexagon is circumscribed about a circle the lines joining opposite vertices meet in one point