cerner

surround

verb sehr-NEH Rare

Also means

pinpoint

Usage Note

Cerner means to encircle or surround (police surrounding a building) and also to define or identify clearly (cerner un problème = to pin down a problem). Avoir les yeux cernés means to have dark circles under one's eyes — les cernes are the rings under the eyes.

Examples

"La police a cerné le bâtiment."

Natural Translation

The police surrounded the building.

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