confine in English
- confine⇄adj. confinable.
- confine⇄adj. confineless.
- confine⇄confine, verb, -fined,-fining,noun.
- confine⇄noun confiner.
- confine⇄noun 1. Often, confines.
a. boundary; border; limit.
Ex. These people have never been beyond the confines of their own valley.
b. a border or frontier.
2. (Obsolete.)
a. a region, territory.
b. a place of confinem - confine⇄v.i. (Rare.) to have a common boundary (with); border (on).
- confine⇄v.t. 1. to keep within limits; restrict.
Ex. He confined his reading to biography. He confined himself to two meals a day.
(SYN) restrain.
2. to keep indoors; shut in.
Ex. A cold confined him to the house.
3. to imprison.
confine in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
confine in Hindi हिन्दी
confine in Kashmiri कॉशुर
confine in Marathi मराठी
confine in Sindhi سنڌي
Confine
Part of Speech
Verb / Noun
Pronunciation
IPA: /kənˈfaɪn/ (verb), /ˈkɒn.faɪn/ (noun)
Definitions
- (Verb) To restrict someone or something within limits.
- (Verb) To keep a person in a place, preventing movement beyond it.
- (Noun, usually plural: confines) The borders or limits of a space or area.
Usage Examples
- Due to illness, he was confined to his bed for a week.
- The prison confines its inmates within high walls.
- The discussion remained within the confines of the meeting agenda.
Etymology
From Latin confinare ("to border, limit"), from con- ("together") + finis ("boundary, end"). The term has been used in English since the 15th century.
Synonyms
- Restrict
- Limit
- Enclose
- Imprison
- Constrain
Antonyms
- Free
- Release
- Expand
- Liberate
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Confinar | /kon.fiˈnar/ |
| French | Confiner | /kɔ̃.fi.ne/ |
| German | Einschränken | /ˈaɪ̯nˌʃʁɛŋ.kən/ |
| Hindi | सीमित करना | /siː.mɪt kər.naː/ |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 限制 | /xiàn zhì/ |
| Russian | Ограничивать | /əɡrʌˈnʲitʃɪvətʲ/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- American English: /kənˈfaɪn/
- British English: /kənˈfaɪn/
Historical Usage
The word "confine" was historically used in the sense of boundary lines between territories. Over time, its meaning expanded to include restrictions placed on individuals, objects, or ideas.
Cultural Nuances
"Confine" often carries connotations of control, restriction, or limitation. It is frequently used in medical, legal, and prison contexts, as well as in figurative speech to discuss mental, emotional, or ideological constraints.
More Information
The word "confine" is widely used in literature and philosophy to express limitations on freedom or movement. In modern contexts, it is frequently employed in discussions about personal liberty, national borders, and space constraints.