[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/engulf.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / engulf

[← E](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/E/)

# engulf

«engulf» in Mova's school dictionary: **to cover or surround it completely, like a wave, flames…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

verb (engulf, engulfs, engulfed, engulfing)

### meaning for a pupil

1) To engulf something is to cover or surround it completely, like a wave, flames or fog swallowing it up. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/engulf/#m1)

2) If a feeling engulfs you, it suddenly fills you completely: «Panic engulfed him». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/engulf/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In geography and science it describes floods, lava, sandstorms or fire covering an area; in biology, a white blood cell can engulf a germ to destroy it. In stories it creates a dramatic picture of something being swallowed or overwhelmed. Phrases: «engulfed in flames», «engulfed by the sea», «engulfed by fear».

### examples

- Flames engulfed the old barn. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/engulf/#x1)
- A huge wave engulfed the sandcastle. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/engulf/#x2)
- Thick fog engulfed the town overnight. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/engulf/#x3)
- Lava from the volcano engulfed the village. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/engulf/#x4)
- A wave of sadness engulfed her when her dog died. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/engulf/#x5)
- White blood cells engulf germs and destroy them. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/engulf/#x6)
- The crowd engulfed the singer as she left the stage. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/engulf/#x7)

### note

Regular verb: engulfed, engulfing. Often passive: «engulfed in/by». Stronger than «cover»: it means completely surrounded or swallowed.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «engulf» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/engulf/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.