[syn: encompassing(a), surrounding(a), circumferent]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
encompassing \encompassing\ adj.
   closely enveloping or surrounding on all sides.
   Syn: ambient, enveloping, surrounding(prenominal).
        [WordNet 1.5]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Encompass \En*com"pass\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encompassed; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Encompassing.]
   To circumscribe or go round so as to surround closely; to
   encircle; to inclose; to environ; as, a ring encompasses the
   finger; an army encompasses a city; a voyage encompassing the
   world. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]
         A question may be encompassed with difficulty. --C. J.
                                                  Smith.
   [1913 Webster]
         The love of all thy sons encompass thee. --Tennyson.
   Syn: To encircle; inclose; surround; include; environ;
        invest; hem in; shut up.
        [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
encompassing
    adj 1: broad in scope or content; "across-the-board pay
           increases"; "an all-embracing definition"; "blanket
           sanctions against human-rights violators"; "an invention
           with broad applications"; "a panoptic study of Soviet
           nationality"- T.G.Winner; "granted him wide powers" [syn:
           across-the-board, all-embracing, all-encompassing,
           all-inclusive, blanket(a), broad, encompassing,
           extensive, panoptic, wide]
    2: closely encircling; "encompassing mountain ranges"; "the
       surrounding countryside" [syn: encompassing(a),
       surrounding(a), circumferent]