demarcate

[ dih-mahr-keyt, dee-mahr-keyt ]
See synonyms for demarcate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),de·mar·cat·ed, de·mar·cat·ing.
  1. to determine or mark off the boundaries or limits of: to demarcate a piece of property.

  2. to separate distinctly: to demarcate the lots with fences.

Origin of demarcate

1
First recorded in 1810–20; back formation from demarcation

Other words from demarcate

  • de·mar·ca·tor, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use demarcate in a sentence

  • Rather, Israel borders four different states; it has demarcated and defined borders with two, Egypt and Jordan.

  • On the other side, it is demarcated from the region in which impulse is a law unto itself.

  • Fig. 56 shows supernumerary third molars, easily demarcated from the normal molars.

    Degeneracy | Eugene S. Talbot
  • It is not likely that new difficulties will arise on this side, although the boundary has not been demarcated.

    The Pacification of Burma | Sir Charles Haukes Todd Crosthwaite
  • Those physiological functions of the human body that appear to be clearly marked off are really not completely demarcated.

    The Gospel Of Evolution | Edward Aveling

British Dictionary definitions for demarcate

demarcate

/ (ˈdiːmɑːˌkeɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to mark, fix, or draw the boundaries, limits, etc, of

  2. to separate or distinguish between (areas with unclear boundaries)

Derived forms of demarcate

  • demarcator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012