ENGULF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does engulf mean? 

• ENGULF (verb)
  The verb ENGULF has 2 senses:

1. devote (oneself) fully to

2. flow over or cover completely

  Familiarity information: ENGULF used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENGULF (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they engulf    ... he / she / it engulfs   
Past simple: engulfed   
Past participle: engulfed   
-ing form: engulfing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Devote (oneself) fully to

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

absorb; engross; engulf; immerse; plunge; soak up; steep

Context example:

He immersed himself into his studies

Hypernyms (to "engulf" is one way to...):

center; centre; concentrate; focus; pore; rivet (direct one's attention on something)

Verb group:

immerse; plunge (cause to be immersed)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "engulf"):

drink; drink in (be fascinated or spell-bound by; pay close attention to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Flow over or cover completely

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The bright light engulfed him completely

Hypernyms (to "engulf" is one way to...):

enclose; enfold; envelop; enwrap; wrap (enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

In five minutes, a home can be engulfed in flames.

(Fires, Federal Emergency Management Agency)

The term hemophagocytosis describes the pathologic finding of activated macrophages, engulfing erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, and their precursor cells.

(Hemophagocytosis, NCI Thesaurus)

Between the medullary cords are the medullary sinuses, which consist mainly of macrophages that engulf microorganisms as part of the lymph node's filtering function.

(Lymph Node Medullary Portion, NCI Thesaurus)

The process by which phagocytes engulf and digest microorganisms and cellular debris; an important defense against infection.

(Phagocytosis, NCI Thesaurus)

As the high watery walls came rolling in, and, at their highest, tumbled into surf, they looked as if the least would engulf the town.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The phagocytes can engulf pathogens but are unable to produce the microbicidal precursors needed to destroy them.

(Chronic Granulomatous Disease, NCI Thesaurus)

But were he wrecked, the living water would engulf him, helpless; and he would indeed be lost.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A storm of tiny dust particles has engulfed much of Mars over the last two weeks and prompted NASA’s Opportunity rover to suspend science operations.

(Martian Dust Storm Grows Global: Curiosity Captures Photos of Thickening Haze, NASA)

Once they run out of this fuel, they puff up into red giants, becoming hundreds of times larger and engulfing nearby planets.

(First Giant Planet around White Dwarf Found, ESO)

The acquisition of lysosomal proteases and release of reactive oxygen species are crucial for digestion of engulfed materials in phagosomes.

(Fc Gamma Receptor-Mediated Phagocytosis Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)