confinar

[kõfi'naɾ]
verb
to confine, to restrict, to limit
1. to keep someone or something within fixed limits; to restrict movement or freedom
The prisoner was confined to his cell.
O prisioneiro foi confinado em sua cela.
2. to limit or restrict something to a specific area, scope, or boundary
We need to confine the damage to this room only.
Precisamos confinar o dano apenas a este cômodo.
3. to share a border with; to be adjacent to (less common usage)
Brazil confines with several South American countries.
O Brasil confina com vários países sul-americanos.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'confinar' is commonly used in legal, medical, and everyday contexts to describe restriction of movement. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the phrase 'confinamento' became widespread in Brazil referring to lockdowns and quarantine measures.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
restringirlimitarencerraraprisionarrcircunscrever
Antonyms / Antônimos
liberarsoltarampliarexpandir

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
confinar
Standard usage across all of Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
confinar
No significant regional variation
São Paulo
confinar
No significant regional variation
Portugal
confinar
Identical usage; also means to border or be adjacent to

Related Words

confinamentoconfinadoconfinadorconfimconfinante

Related Idioms & Phrases

confinar-se a
confinar alguém à cama
confinar-se ao leito
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