confine
gb/kˈɑnfaɪn/ us/kˈɑnfaɪn/
B1
Inglés
~ 2900
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Verbo
B1
action
1
Keep within limits or boundaries
To keep a person or thing in one place or to stop them from going outside certain limits.
Patrón de uso:
to confine [someone/something] to [place/limits]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse 'confine' with 'define'. 'Confine' means to limit or keep inside; 'define' means to explain the meaning of something.
Sinónimos
restrict (More general; can apply to non-physical limitations as well.)
|
imprison (Specifically means to confine a person in prison.)
Antónimos
free (Means to release from confinement or restriction.)
|
liberate (Often used for freeing from severe or unjust confinement.)
Colocaciones
confine to bed
|confine within walls
|confine to prison
|confine discussion
|confine movement
Temas
control
|law
|daily life
|space
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The patient was confined to bed for two weeks after surgery.
- The zoo confines the animals to secure enclosures.
- Due to the storm, we were confined indoors all day.
- The prisoner was confined to his cell for 23 hours a day.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- She was confined to her room.
- The dog is confined in the yard.
- He was confined to bed after the accident.
- We were confined inside because of the rain.
Verbo
B2
action
2
Limit the range or scope of something
To limit what you talk about, work on, or deal with to a particular subject or area.
Patrón de uso:
to confine [discussion/activity] to [topic/area]
Error frecuente:
Learners may overuse this sense for physical restriction contexts; in abstract use it refers to limiting scope, not physical movement.
Sinónimos
narrow (Focuses on reducing breadth in scope.)
|
limit (General term for placing boundaries on extent or amount.)
Antónimos
expand (Increase in size, scope, or extent.)
|
broaden (Make wider in scope or range.)
Colocaciones
confine remarks
|confine attention
|confine efforts
|confine scope
Temas
communication
|work
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Please confine your remarks to the topic under discussion.
- The study confines itself to rural communities.
- We should confine our efforts to achievable goals.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Please confine your talk to the point.
- The book confines itself to one subject.
- We will confine our work to this project.
Sustantivo
formal
B2
entity
3
Borders or limits of an area/subject
The edges or borders of a place or of what is possible.
Error frecuente:
Learners may confuse this noun form with its verb form; as a noun it refers to boundaries, not the act of restricting.
Sinónimos
limits (General term for boundaries.)
|
boundaries (Often used for physical or conceptual borders.)
Antónimos
freedom (Absence of limits or restrictions.)
Colocaciones
within the confines of
|escape the confines of
|confines of the city
Temas
geography
|law
|space
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- She spent most of her life within the confines of the small village.
- The discussion stayed within the confines of legal issues.
- They longed to escape the confines of their routine.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He stayed within the confines of the park.
- They live within the confines of this town.
- She wanted to leave the confines of her home.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
confine
AFI
GB/kˈɑnfaɪn/
US/kˈɑnfaɪn/
Sílabas y acento
con - fine (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Formas de la palabra
Verb
- Base: confine
- 3rd Person Singular: confines
- Present Participle: confining
- Past: confined
Familia de palabras
Forms
confines
verb
confining
verb
confined
verb
Core family
confinement
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unconfined
adjective
Expresiones
confined space
1/kənfˈaɪnd spˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
Small enclosed area with limited access
A small closed place that is hard to get in and out of and may have little air.
Ejemplos
- Workers must wear protective gear when entering a confined space.
- The rescue team had trouble reaching him in the confined space.
confined to bed
1/kənfˈaɪnd tə bˈɛd/
fixed phrase
Kept in bed by illness/injury
Made to stay in bed because you are sick or hurt.
Ejemplos
- After the operation, she was confined to bed for several days.
- He has been confined to bed with the flu.
within the confines of
1/wɪðˈɪn ðə kˈɑnfaɪnz əv/
fixed phrase
formal
Inside set boundaries or limits
Inside the limits or borders of a place or situation.
Ejemplos
- All activities must take place within the confines of the campus.
- Freedom of speech exists within the confines of the law.