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circumscribed

In geometry, the word circumscribed describes a shape that is enclosed within another. For example, a triangle that is perfectly enclosed within a circle that touches all three of the triangle's corners is circumscribed.

Beyond its geometric meaning, the word circumscribed is used to describe something or someone on whom limitations or restrictions have been imposed. For instance, a child's playroom might be circumscribed by a literal fence, or it might be circumscribed by house rules that create safe boundaries. In any context, the word circumscribed shows how something is contained within clear limits, whether it's about setting restrictions in daily life or defining shapes in geometry.

Definitions of circumscribed
  1. adjective
    subject to limits or subjected to limits
    synonyms: limited
    restricted
    subject to restriction or subjected to restriction
  2. adjective
    (geometry) drawn or placed around another shape, touching all its corners or sides without intersecting it
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