French Conversation · Level 187
15 words
French word
cerner
Pronunciation
IPA/sɛʁne/
Meaning
- verbsurround
Example
La police a cerné le quartier.
The police surrounded the neighborhood.
More examples
Les forces ont cerné le bâtiment.
The forces surrounded the building.
Core concept
A ring drawn around a target, separating it from its surroundings and revealing its limits.
Common phrases
cerner le bâtiment
surround the building
cerner la zone
surround the area
cerner le périmètre
surround the perimeter
Similar words
comprendre: To understand what something means or what is happening.
identifier: To establish the identity or name of a person or thing.
définir: To make a word's meaning or a range's boundaries clear.
repérer: To find and determine the position of a place or landmark.
Definition in French
Mettre quelque chose ou quelqu'un dans un cercle; au sens figuré, délimiter, repérer ou préciser la nature et les limites d'un élément.
Word origin
French cerner comes through Old French from Latin circinare, 'to make round', and developed from literal enclosure to precise delimitation.
Usage tips
- Cerner takes a direct object without a preposition, as in cerner le problème or cerner quelqu'un.