cerner
Meanings
Verb
1. to surround (transitive)
2. to figure out; to distinguish, identify the boundaries of (transitive, figuratively)
Examples15
La discussion a aidé à cerner le problème.
The discussion helped to clarify the nature and scope of the problem.
Les gendarmes cernèrent la maison où il s’était réfugié.
The policemen surrounded the house in which he had been hiding.
Je n'arrive jamais à te cerner.
I can never make you out.
On n'arrive pas à te cerner.
You're impossible to read.
Je n'arrive pas à cerner le problème.
I can't pinpoint the problem.
Nous sommes cernés.
We're surrounded.