Skip to content

cerco

encirclement; siege; ring

noun SEHR-koh Rare

Origin: From Latin circus (circle, ring).

Also means

frame; hoop

Usage Note

Cerco in military or political contexts means a siege or encirclement — poner cerco a una ciudad (to lay siege to a city). It also means a physical ring or hoop, the frame around a door or window, or a circular mark left by a glass on a surface. The verb cercar means to surround or fence in.

Examples

"Las tropas pusieron cerco a la ciudad durante semanas."

Natural Translation

The troops laid siege to the city for weeks.

Explore Spanish by topic