ceñir

to cling to

ceñir(seh-nyeer)

transitive verb

1. (to fit tightly)

a. to cling to

Estos jeans apretados me ciñen las pantorrillas.

These tight jeans cling to my calves.

b. to hug

Este vestido realza mi busto, pero, desafortunadamente, me ciñe la cintura.

This dress accentuates my bust, but, unfortunately, it hugs my waist.

c. to be tight on

Le dije al sastre que la chaqueta del traje me ciñe los hombros.

I told the tailor that the suit jacket is tight on my shoulders.

2. (to enclose)

a. to surround

Un bosque de pinos ciñe el lago.

A pine forest surrounds the lake.

b. to encircle

Una muralla impenetrable ciñe la ciudad de Troya.

An impenetrable wall encircles the city of Troy.

3.

(literary)

(to don)

a. to wear

Esa no era una corona que pensaba ceñir.

That was not a crown he was planning on wearing.

ceñirse

pronominal verb

4. (to adhere to)

a. to stick to

No divagues y cíñete al tema en cuestión.

Don't ramble and stick to the subject in question.

b. to limit oneself

Cíñete a hablar solamente cuando se te otorgue el permiso.

Limit yourself to speaking only when you are given permission.

c. to keep to

¿Quieres otra multa? Por favor, cíñete al límite de velocidad.

You want another fine? Please, keep to the speed limit.

5. (to don)

a. to put on

El nuevo rey se ciñó la corona y se sentó en el trono.

The new king put on the crown and sat on the throne.

ceñir

transitive verb

1. (apretar)

a. to be tight on

2. (abrazar)

a. to embrace

3. (amoldar)

a.

ceñir ato keep o restrict to

pronominal verb

4. (apretarse)

a. to tighten

5. (limitarse)

a.

ceñirse ato keep o stick to

Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited

ceñir

transitive verb

1 (ajustar)

el vestido le ceñía el cuerpo the dress clung to o hugged her body; the dress was really tight-fitting; la faja le ceñía el talle the sash fitted tightly around her waist

2 (Cos) to take in

habrá que ceñir más el talle the waist will need to be taken in more

3 (rodear) to surround; encircle

la muralla que ciñe la ciudad the wall that surrounds o encircles the city; un lazo de terciopelo le ceñía la cintura she had a velvet ribbon around her waist; a velvet ribbon encircled o (literario) girdled her waist; ceñí su cuerpo con mis brazos I wrapped my arms around his body

4 (llevar puesto)

la corona que ciñó nuestro rey the crown that our king wore; the crown that rested on the head of our king

pronominal verb

ceñirse

1 (reducirse)

ceñirse a algo: esta biografía se ciñe a la vida personal del autor this biography limits itself o restricts itself to the author's personal life

ciñéndonos al tema del precio su programa electoral se ciñe a aspectos económicos en este apartado nos ceñiremos a los aspectos económicos se ciñe exclusivamente a los aspectos políticos

me voy a ceñir a algunos detalles significativos I am going to limit o restrict myself to certain relevant details

2 (atenerse)

ceñirse a algo: no se ciñeron a lo acordado they did not keep to o stick to the agreement; será difícil ceñirse al presupuesto it will be difficult to keep to o keep within o stay within the budget

tiene que ceñirse a un modesto sueldo la comisión debe ceñirse al marco constitucional

por favor, cíñase a las preguntas del fiscal please keep to the questions of the public prosecutor; please limit yourself to answering the questions of the public prosecutor

por favor, cíñase al tema que nos ocupa

3 (ponerse) to put on

quiso ceñirse de nuevo el traje de novia she wanted to put on her wedding dress again; se ciñó la correa alrededor de la cintura she put the belt around her waist; se ciñó la gorra y se marchó he put o pulled his hat on and left; ceñirse la corona to be crowned; take the crown (literario); ceñirse la espada to put on one's sword; gird one's sword (literario)