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]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

encircling \encircling\ adj.
   surrounding. [prenominal]

   Syn: circumferential, skirting(prenominal).
        [WordNet 1.5]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

encircling
    adj 1: being all around the edges; enclosing; "his encircling
           arms"; "the room's skirting board needs painting" [syn:
           encircling(a), skirting(a)]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

30 Moby Thesaurus words for "encircling":
   ambient, assimilating, circling, circumambient, circumferential,
   circumflex, circumfluent, circumfluous, circumjacent, comprising,
   containing, counting, covering, embracing, enclosing, encompassing,
   enfolding, enveloping, environing, envisaging, including,
   inclusive, incorporating, neighboring, numbering, peripheral,
   roundabout, suburban, surrounding, wrapping