Circumvallate

//sɜːkəmˈvæleɪt// adj, verb

adj, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To surround with, or as if with, a rampart. transitive

    "The settlement is circumvallated by a stake-fence, so decayed that one may gain ingress at a dozen places."

  2. 2
    surround with or as if with a rampart or other fortification wordnet
Adjective
  1. 1
    Surrounded with a wall; enclosed with a rampart. not-comparable
  2. 2
    Surrounded by a ridge or elevation. not-comparable

    "circumvallate papillae, near the base of the tongue"

Example

More examples

"The settlement is circumvallated by a stake-fence, so decayed that one may gain ingress at a dozen places."

Etymology

From Latin circumvallare, from circum- + vallum (“rampart”).

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.