confine

CEFRC1

/kənˈfaɪn/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To keep someone or something within limits or a place.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    A boundary or limit.

Examples

  • Confine your remarks to the matter we are discussing.

  • Here, I'll confine this discussion to why many foreigners enjoy sumo.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /ˈkɒnfaɪn/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To restrict (someone or something) to a particular scope or area; to keep in or within certain bounds.

  2. To have a common boundary with; to border on.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. Confinement, imprisonment.

More examples

In context

  • 1680, John Dryden, Ovid’s Epistles translated by several hands, London: Jacob Tonson, Preface, He is to confine himself to the compass of numbers and the slavery of rhyme.

  • She says for you to bring her a slice of cake, A bottle of the best wine, And not to forget the fair young lady That did release you from close confine.

  • Betwixt heaven and earth and skies there stands a place / Confining on all three.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The farmer had to blank the flock of sheep inside the barn.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle French confiner, from confins, from Medieval Latin confines, from Latin confinium, from confīnis.