EnglishMain Dictionary
siege
Universal Words
noun
1 a military operation in which an army tries to capture a town by surrounding it and stopping the supply of food, etc. to the people inside:
the siege of Troy * The siege was finally lifted (= ended) after six months. * The police placed the city centre under a virtual state of siege (= it was hard to get in or out).
2 a situation in which the police surround a building where people are living or hiding, in order to make them come out:
The siege was finally brought to an end when the terrorists surrendered.
seealsoBESIEGE
IDIOMS
under siege
1 surrounded by an army or the police in a siege:
The city was under siege for six months.
2 being criticized all the time or put under pressure by problems, questions, etc:
The government is already under siege for its economic policy.
lay siege to sth
1 to begin a siege of a town, building, etc:
The crusaders laid siege to Lisbon.
2 to surround a building, especially in order to speak to or question the person or people living or working there:
Crowds of journalists laid siege to the star's apartment.
