limitar

to limit

limitar(lee-mee-tahr)

transitive verb

1. (to set limits to)

a. to limit

Mi jefe dice que quiere limitar nuestras llamadas personales a las imprescindibles.

My boss says he wants to limit our personal phone calls to those that are absolutely essential.

b. to restrict

El doctor me limitó el consumo de azúcares.

The doctor has restricted the amount of sugar I can consume.

2. (to curb)

a. to limit

Limitaron las visitas a los prisioneros.

Visits to prisoners have been limited.

b. to reduce

Van a limitar el número de becas este año.

They're going to reduce the number of scholarships this year.

intransitive verb

3. (to adjoin: used with "con")

a. to share a border with

México limita al norte con los Estados Unidos.

Mexico shares a border with the United States to the north.

b. to border

Francia limita al sur con España.

France borders Spain to the south.

limitarse

reflexive verb

4. (to concentrate on; used with "a")

a. to limit oneself to

¿Por qué limitarte a los destinos frecuentados por todos?

Why limit yourself to the destinations everyone goes to?

b. to restrict oneself to

No tienes que limitarte a los colores oscuros.

You don't need to restrict yourself to dark colors.

c. to confine oneself to

De momento Amalia tendrá que limitarse a tomar comidas blandas.

Amalia will have to confine herself to eating bland food for the moment.

d.

no direct translation

Yo me limito a hacer lo que me mandan.

I just do as I am told.

Limítate a mirar y no digas nada por el momento.

Just watch and don't say anything for a moment.

5. (to place limits on; used with "en")

a. to keep in check

Tendré que limitarme en mis compras navideñas este año.

I'll have to keep my Christmas shopping in check this year.

b. to cut back on

El escritor empezó a limitarse en su consumo de cafeína.

The writer started cutting back on his caffeine consumption.