Meaning of encapsulate

Encapsulate means to enclose or surround something in a capsule or container, or to express or summarize something in a concise or condensed form. It can also refer to the process of hiding the internal workings of a system or object and only exposing the necessary information or functionality to the outside world.

Encapsulate means to enclose or contain something within a protective or enclosing layer or structure. It can be used both literally and figuratively:

Literal Meaning:

- Enclosing something in a container, capsule, or wrapping to protect it from external factors (e.g., Encapsulating a medicine in a pill).
- Coating or surrounding something with a protective layer (e.g., Encapsulating a metal with a protective polymer coating).

Figurative Meaning:

- Summarizing or condensing a complex idea or concept into a concise and digestible form (e.g., Encapsulating a research study into a short report).
- Expressing or embodying a particular quality, characteristic, or emotion (e.g., A smile that encapsulates joy).

Examples:

- Literal:
- "The pharmaceutical company encapsulated the active ingredient in a time-release capsule."
- "The manufacturer encapsulated the electronic components in a waterproof housing."
- Figurative:
- "The speech encapsulated the president's vision for the future of the country."
- "His eyes encapsulated a sadness that could not be hidden."
- "The music encapsulated the essence of the 1960s counterculture."

Synonyms:

- Enclose
- Contain
- Protect
- Summarize
- Condense
- Embody
- Represent