Acotar is a verb.
/aˈko.t̪aɾ/
Acotar is used primarily in contexts related to defining or limiting the scope of something. This can pertain to legal, academic, or technical discussions where precise boundaries need to be established. It can also be used more generally to refer to the act of restricting or narrowing something down.
The term acotar is moderately used in both oral and written contexts, though it is more commonly found in written texts, particularly in formal documents, legal contexts, and academic literature.
It is necessary to limit the presentation time to avoid confusion.
Los investigadores decidieron acotar el alcance del estudio a un grupo específico.
The researchers decided to delimit the scope of the study to a specific group.
Debemos acotar las reglas del juego para que todos estén de acuerdo.
The term acotar is not commonly used in set idiomatic expressions; however, it can be part of phrases emphasizing limitation or delineation. Here are a few examples:
Es importante acotar el debate a los puntos principales.
Acotar el riesgo – To limit risk
La gestión adecuada puede ayudar a acotar el riesgo de pérdida.
Acotar el tiempo – To bracket time
The verb acotar comes from the Latin accutare, which is a derivative of acutus (sharp) and relates to the idea of defining or sharpening the boundaries of a subject or matter.