surround

Universal Words verb, noun verb [VN] ~ sth/sb (with sth) 1 to be all around sth/sb: Tall trees surround the lake. * The lake is surrounded with / by trees. * the membranes surrounding the brain * As a child I was surrounded by love and kindness. 2 ~ sb/sth (with sb/sth) to move into position all around sb/sth, especially so as to prevent them from escaping; to move sb/sth into position in this way: Police surrounded the building. * They've surrounded the building with police. 3 to be closely connected with sth/sb: publicity surrounding the divorce 4 ~ yourself with sb/sth to choose to have particular people or things near you all the time: I like to surround myself with beautiful things. noun a border or an area around the edge of sth, especially one that is decorated: a fireplace with a tiled surround