/siːdʒ/
siege
BrE /siːdʒ/
NAmE /siːdʒ/
a military operation in which an army tries to capture a town by surrounding it and stopping the supply of food, etc. to the people inside
the siege of Troy
The siege was finally lifted (= ended) after six months.
The police placed the city centre under a virtual state of siege (= it was hard to get in or out).
a situation in which the police surround a building where people are living or hiding, in order to make them come out
➡ see also besiege
under ˈsiege
surrounded by an army or the police in a siege
being criticized all the time or put under pressure by problems, questions, etc.
lay ˈsiege to sth
to begin a siege of a town, building, etc.
to surround a building, especially in order to speak to or question the person or people living or working there