June 21, 2011 - Word of the Day: surround

Yesterday in class while talking about New York's Manhattan Island, the word "surround" came up. If you've never been to New York, you might not know that the largest part of the city is surrounded by water. The verb "surround" is used when an object or a person has things or people all around it.

• Water surrounds the island he's on. He'll stay there until someone rescues him.
• The police surrounded the car and then arrested the driver.
• Some of the suburbs that surround Chicago have very expensive housing.
• She was surrounded by friends and family during her graduation party. (The passive voice is often used with "surround.")
• Roger and Kim are surrounded by homes that have been foreclosed upon in their neighborhood.

Do you want to learn more new words?