(~s confining, ~d)
1.
To ~ something to a particular place or group means to prevent it from spreading beyond that place or group.
Health officials have successfully ~d the epidemic to the Tabatinga area...
The US will soon be taking steps to ~ the conflict.
= restrict
VERB: V n to n, V n
2.
If you ~ yourself or your activities to something, you do only that thing and are involved with nothing else.
He did not ~ himself to the one language...
His genius was not ~d to the decoration of buildings.
= limit, restrict
VERB: V pron-refl to n, V-ed
3.
If someone is ~d to a mental institution, prison, or other place, they are sent there and are not allowed to leave for a period of time.
The woman will be ~d to a mental institution...
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n
4.
Something that is within the ~s of an area or place is within the boundaries enclosing it. (FORMAL)
The movie is set entirely within the ~s of the abandoned factory.
N-PLURAL: usu prep the N of n
5.
The ~s of a situation, system, or activity are the limits or restrictions it involves.
...away from the ~s of the British class system...
I can’t stand the ~s of this marriage.
= constraints
N-PLURAL: usu the N of n