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To lie or be on all sides of; to encircle; as, a wall surrounds the city. But could instead, and ever-during dark Surrounds me. Milton.

The things which surround or environ; external or attending circumstances or conditions.

Inattentive to surrounding objects; absent in mind. "An abstracted scholar." Johnson.

The fluid which we breathe, and which surrounds the earth; the atmosphere. It is invisible, inodorous, insipid, transparent, compressible, elastic, and ponderable.

The bone of the rump; also, the cut of beef surrounding this bone. [Spelt also edgebone.]

Something that surrounds or invests; as, air . . . being a perpetual ambient. Sir H. Wotton.

In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. "This fair tree amidst the garden." "Unseen amid the throng." "Amidst thick clouds." Milton. "Amidst acclamations." "Amidst the splendor and festivity of a court." Macaulay. But rather famish them amid their plenty. Shak.

A thin membrane surrounding the embryos of mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Mixed or mingled; surrounded by. They heard, And from his presence hid themselves among The thickest trees. Milton.

Anything resembling an amphitheater in form; as, a level surrounded by rising slopes or hills, or a rising gallery in a theater.

ng plants of northern climates, of which the original species was found growing on a rock surrounded by water.

A red or yellowish-red dyeing material, prepared from the pulp surrounding the seeds of a tree (Bixa orellana) belonging to the tropical regions of America. It is used for coloring cheese, butter, etc. [Written also Anatto, Anatta, Annatto, Annotta, etc.]

Furnished with, or composed of, rings; ringed; surrounded by rings of color.

The architectural member surrounding the curved opening of an arch, corresponding to the architrave in the case of a square opening.

In a circuit; here and there within the surrounding space; all about; as, to travel around from town to town.

Profound debility of children due to lack of food and to unhygienic surroundings. --A*threp"tic (#), a.

The whole mass of aëriform fluid surrounding the earth; -- applied also to the gaseous envelope of any celestial orb, or other body; as, the atmosphere of Mars.

A coral island or islands, consisting of a belt of coral reef, partly submerged, surrounding a central lagoon or depression; a lagoon island.

tric ~, a supposed electric fluid, emanating from an electrified body, and forming a mass surrounding it, called the electric atmosphere. See Atmosphere, 2.

The circle of rays, or halo of light, with which painters surround the figure and represent the glory of Christ, saints, and others held in special reverence.