1. Boundaries or limits: This is the most common meaning of "confines." It refers to the physical or abstract limits of something.
* Example: "The city's confines are expanding rapidly." (The city is growing beyond its original boundaries.)
* Example: "He felt trapped within the confines of his small apartment." (He felt restricted by the limited space.)
2. Restriction or confinement: This meaning refers to the act of being restrained or imprisoned.
* Example: "The prisoner was held in the confines of his cell." (The prisoner was locked up and unable to leave.)
* Example: "The rules of the game confined our creativity." (The rules limited how we could play.)
3. (Archaic) To enclose or limit: This meaning is less common and is primarily found in older texts.
* Example: "The fortress was confined by towering walls." (The walls surrounded and protected the fortress.)
In summary, "confines" generally refers to boundaries, limits, or restrictions. The specific meaning will depend on the context of the sentence.