/ bɪˈsiːdʒ; NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
to surround a building, city, etc. with soldiers until the people inside are forced to let you in
SYN lay siege to :
Paris was besieged for four months and forced to surrender.
( figurative )
Fans besieged the box office to try and get tickets for the concert.
2.
[ usually passive ] ( especially of sth unpleasant or annoying ) to surround sb/sth in large numbers :
The actress was besieged by reporters at the airport.
3.
besiege sb (with sth) to send so many letters, ask so many questions, etc. that it is difficult for sb to deal with them all :
The radio station was besieged with calls from angry listeners.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : alteration (by change of prefix) of assiege , from Old French asegier .