cordoning
Sealing an area
Cordoning is the act of setting up a barrier or boundary to restrict access to an area.
Police cordon off crime scenes to preserve evidence; emergency responders cordon streets during accidents or fires.
The word comes from cordon, originally a ribbon or cord used as a barrier.
They're cordoning the building while the bomb squad investigates.
The action implies official authority and temporary restriction rather than permanent enclosure.
Obstacle blocking a path
- tapeAdhesive strip on roll
- conesTapering geometric solids
- bollardTraffic-blocking vertical post
- fenceBoundary structure between properties
partition · blockade · railing · rope · chain · sawhorses · barriers · fencing
Isolation preventing disease transmission
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
- segregationForced separation by group
- no-goProhibited or impossible
off-limits · closed · prohibited · lockdown · closure · confinement · curtailment · separation
Formal boundary setting
- borderOuter edge or limit
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- zoneBounded area designation
ring · circuit · circumference · edge · limit · radius · outline · surround
Formal examination of facts
- forensicPertaining to legal investigation
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- tapeAdhesive strip on roll
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
incident · hazmat · security · patrol · surveillance · witness · documentation
Source of potential harm
- precautionPreventive safety measure
- protectionGuarding against harm
- warningAlert about danger
- cautionCareful attention to risk
evacuation · emergency · risk · shielding · visibility · alert · safeguard · decontamination
barricade
Obstacle blocking a path
fence · partition · blockade · railing · rope · chain · sawhorses · barriers · fencing · hoarding
quarantine
Isolation preventing disease transmission
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
- segregationForced separation by group
no-go · off-limits · closed · prohibited · lockdown · closure · confinement · curtailment · separation
demarcation
Formal boundary setting
- borderOuter edge or limit
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- boundaryLine marking a limit
zone · ring · circuit · circumference · edge · limit · radius · outline · surround · ring-fence
investigation
Formal examination of facts
detective · incident · hazmat · security · patrol · surveillance · witness · documentation
hazard
Source of potential harm
- precautionPreventive safety measure
- protectionGuarding against harm
- warningAlert about danger
caution · evacuation · emergency · risk · shielding · visibility · alert · safeguard · decontamination · biohazard
- containingcontaining, enclosing, encasing, wrapping, enveloping
- warning signalsalarm, alert, caution, siren, horn
- dividing thingssplitting, separating, sectioning, slicing, dicing
- boundary termsfencing, walling, hedging, bordering, edging
cordoningadmitting
Confessing or granting entry
opening up · letting in · ushering in · receiving · embracing
- cordoning offEnclosing to restrict access