- 1a 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 center under a virtual state of siege (= it was hard to get in or out).
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- 2a situation in which the police surround a building where people are living or hiding, in order to make them come out The siege was finally brought to an end when the terrorists surrendered. see besiege
- 1to begin a siege of a town, building, etc. The crusaders laid siege to Lisbon.
- 2to surround a building, especially in order to speak to or question the person or people living or working there Crowds of journalists laid siege to the star's apartment.
- 1surrounded by an army or the police in a siege The city was under siege for six months.
- 2being criticized all the time or put under pressure by problems, questions, etc. The administration is already under siege for its economic policy.
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