🟠 To enclose fully 🧩 To include fully

to englobe

1 8.4

Completely surround something, often in a round shape like a ball

verb
/ɪnˈɡloʊb/

: englobar

The planet Earth is englobed by a protective layer of atmosphere that shields it from harmful radiation.

Examples

The large bubble englobed all the smaller ones, creating a mesmerizing visual effect in the sunlight.
A rich yellow light englobed them, and beyond, for a backdrop, a deep green undulation of shrubs and sea grape shook their branches as if in mimicry.

Fiction book (2002)
The artist created a sculpture that englobes the concept of harmony within its elegant curves.

Synonyms

to surround

vsto englobe

637 1.7

To be all around a person or thing on every side

adds the special sense of a rounded, often spherical complete enclosure

to wrap around

vsto englobe

216 3.4

Cover something by winding a cloth around it

means total enclosure specifically arranged as a rounded or spherical wrap

to circle

vsto englobe

55 2.0

To draw a line around something to show it

focuses more on fully enclosing with a rounded, three dimensional shape

to envelop

vsto englobe

34 4.5

To surround something completely, like fog or darkness

stresses total enclosure with an explicitly rounded or spherical form

to enclose

vsto englobe

31 3.7

Surround something completely, often with a wall or fence

highlights enclosing with a rounded or spherical shape rather than barriers

to encircle

vsto englobe

27 3.4

To form a circle around a person or thing

is about full enclosure with a rounded or spherical shape

to encase

vsto englobe

22 4.9

To cover something completely so nothing can get in or out

focuses on surrounding in a rounded way rather than on impermeability

to ring

vsto englobe

11 2.5

To form a circle around something to surround it

means full enclosure that implies a rounded or ball like surrounding

to wall

vsto englobe

10 6.4

To surround an area with a wall to protect it

refers instead to enclosing in a rounded or spherical manner

to compass

vsto englobe

Archaic

2 7.4

To surround something completely

constrains that surrounding to a rounded, sphere like enclosure

to enwrap

vsto englobe

1 8.0

To cover something completely, often by surrounding it with cloth or paper

adds the idea of a rounded, all around enclosure rather than just wrapping

to environ

vsto englobe

1 8.8

To surround something on all sides

specifies that the complete enclosure takes a rounded or spherical form

to sphere

vsto englobe

1 7.6

To make something round like a ball

emphasizes complete surrounding specifically with a rounded outer form

to circumvallate

vsto englobe

Archaic

9.9

To surround a place with walls or dirt banks to stop people leaving

is about enclosing in a rounded, all around shape rather than fortifying

Antonyms

to expose

67 2.8

Make something visible by removing a cover or letting light reach it

How Complete

to englobe

1 8.4

to envelop

34 4.5

to encircle

27 3.4

to surround

637 1.7

to border

1 3.1

Surface Forms

englobe infinitive

englobed past

englobed past participle

englobing present participle

englobes third person singular

Morphology

englobe = globe (transparent) = en + globe

The prefix 'en-' indicates to cause to be or to put into, making the meaning clear as 'to put into a globe-like form'.

Etymology

Englobe comes from French parts en- 'in' and globe 'ball' or 'sphere'. So to englobe something is like putting it 'in a ball' or surrounding it completely in a round way.