enclosure

noun enclosures · inclosure

1. countable Something that is enclosed, i.e. inserted into a letter or similar package. There was an enclosure with the letter — a photo.
2. uncountable The act of enclosing, i.e. the insertion or inclusion of an item in a letter or package. The enclosure of a photo with your letter is appreciated.
3. countable An area, domain, or amount of something partially or entirely enclosed by barriers. He faced punishment for creating the fenced enclosure in a public park.
4. uncountable The act of separating and surrounding an area, domain, or amount of something with a barrier. The enclosure of public land is against the law.
5. broadly, uncountable The act of restricting access to ideas, works of art or technologies using patents or intellectual property laws. Copyright, from day one, was designed to be both an impediment and an incentive, a mechanism of enclosure (one that prevented the unlicensed printing of texts, thereby limiting access) and a catalyst of sorts, a structure to stimulate the production of literary goods by rewarding writers and publish
6. uncountable The post-feudal process of subdivision of common lands for individual ownership. Strip-farming disappeared after enclosure.
7. countable, uncountable The area of a convent, monastery, etc where access is restricted to community members.