re ‧ strict W3 AC /rɪˈstrɪkt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ restricted ≠ UNRESTIRCTED , ↑ restrictive ; verb : ↑ restrict ; noun : ↑ restriction ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of restringere ; ⇨ ↑ restrain ]
1 . to limit or control the size, amount, or range of something:
The new law restricts the sale of hand guns.
You may need to restrict access to certain files (=limit the number of people who can read them) .
The agreement will restrict competition.
restrict something to something
In future we will restrict class sizes to 20 students.
2 . to limit someone’s actions or movements:
The cramped living conditions severely restricted the children’s freedom to play.
3 . restrict yourself/somebody to (doing) something to allow yourself to have or do only a particular thing or amount of something:
I’m restricting myself to two cigarettes a day.