The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Encircle \En*cir"cle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encircled; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Encircling.] [Pref. en- + circle: cf. OF.
   encercler.]
   To form a circle about; to inclose within a circle or ring;
   to surround; as, to encircle one in the arms; the army
   encircled the city.
   [1913 Webster]

         Her brows encircled with his serpent rod. --Parnell.

   Syn: To encompass; surround; environ; inclose.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

encircle
    v 1: form a circle around; "encircle the errors" [syn:
         encircle, circle]
    2: bind with something round or circular [syn: gird,
       encircle]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

126 Moby Thesaurus words for "encircle":
   admit, assimilate, band, begird, beleaguer, belt, belt in, beset,
   besiege, blockade, bound, box in, cage, chamber, cincture, circle,
   circuit, circuiteer, circulate, circumambulate, circummigrate,
   circumnavigate, circumvent, close in, close the circle,
   come full circle, compass, complete, comprehend, comprise, confine,
   contain, coop, coop in, coop up, cordon, cordon off, corral,
   count in, cover, cycle, describe a circle, embody, embrace,
   encincture, enclose, encompass, engird, enshrine, ensphere,
   envelop, environ, envisage, fence in, fill, fill in, fill out,
   flank, gird, girdle, girdle the globe, go about, go around,
   go round, go the round, gyre, halo, harass, harry, hedge in, hem,
   hem in, hold, hold in, house in, impound, imprison, incarcerate,
   include, incorporate, invest, jail, kennel, lap, lay siege to,
   leaguer, loop, make a circuit, mew, mew up, number among, occupy,
   orbit, pen, pen in, pocket, quarantine, rail in, receive,
   reckon among, reckon in, reckon with, revolve, ring, round, shrine,
   shut in, shut up, skirt, soften up, spiral, stable, surround,
   take in, take into account, take into consideration, take up,
   twine around, wall in, wheel, wrap, wreathe, wreathe around, yard,
   yard up, zone