v.
Pronunciation: ' kän- ˌ f ī n also k ə n- '
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French confines, plural, from Latin confine border, from neuter of confinis adjacent, from com- + finis end
Date: 15th century
1 plural a : something (as borders or walls) that encloses <outside the confine s of the office or hospital ― W. A. Nolen> also : something that restrains <escape from the confine s of soot and clutter ― E. S. Muskie> b : SCOPE 3 <work within the confine s of a small group ― Frank Newman>
2 a archaic : RESTRICTION b obsolete : PRISON