besiege a city; besieged city
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to besiege a city; to encircle a city; to lay siege to a city
Military terminology referring to the tactic of encircling a city to cut it off from supplies and reinforcements. Can be used as a separable verb (e.g., 围了城, 围过城).
This is an intense siege battle.
The general decided to besiege the city in order to strike the enemy reinforcements.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
The army has been besieging the city for three months.
noun
besieged city; city under siege; fortress
Refers to the city itself that is being besieged. Also the title of the famous novel 'Fortress Besieged' (围城) by Qian Zhongshu, which has given the term additional cultural connotations of feeling trapped in a marriage or situation.
The soldiers held out in the besieged city, waiting for reinforcements.
Qian Zhongshu's novel 'Fortress Besieged' is a classic of modern Chinese literature.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
This besieged city has been surrounded for half a year.