1. subst. (geometry) A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center).
The set of all points (x, y) such that (x-1)2 + y2 = r2 is a circle of radius r around the point (1, 0).
2. subst. A two-dimensional geometric figure, a disk, consisting of the set of all those points of a plane at a distance less than or equal to a fixed distance (radius) from a given point.
3. subst. Any thin three-dimensional equivalent of the geometric figures.
Put on your dunce-cap and sit down on that circle.
4. subst. A curve that more or less forms part or all of a circle.
move in a circle
5. subst. Orbit.
6. subst. A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest.
inner circle
circle of friends
literary circle
7. subst. (cricket) A line comprising two semicircles of 30 yards radius centred on the wickets joined by straight lines parallel to the pitch used to enforce field restrictions in a one-day match.
8. subst. (Wicca) A ritual circle that is cast three times deosil and closes three times widdershins either in the air with a wand or literally with stones or other items used for worship.
9. subst. (South Africa) A traffic circle or roundabout.
11. subst. (astronomy) An instrument of observation, whose graduated limb consists of an entire circle. When fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a mural circle; when mounted with a telescope on an ax
12. subst. A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.
13. subst. (logic) A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.
14. subst. Indirect form of words; circumlocution.
15. subst. A territorial division or district.
The ten Circles of the Holy Roman Empire were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet.
16. subst. (in the plural) A bagginess of the skin below the eyes from lack of sleep.
After working all night, she had circles under her eyes.
17. v. To travel around along a curved path.
18. v. To surround.
19. v. To place or mark a circle around.
Circle the jobs that you are interested in applying for.
2. adj. Circular or cylindrical; having a circular cross-section in one direction.
We sat at a round table to make conversation easier.
3. adj. Spherical; shaped like a ball; having a circular cross-section in more than one direction.
The ancient Egyptian demonstrated that the Earth is round, not flat.
4. adj. Lacking sharp angles; having gentle curves.
Our child's bed has round corners for safety.
5. adj. Plump.
6. adj. Complete, whole, not lacking.
The baker sold us a round dozen.
7. adj. (of a number) Convenient for rounding other numbers to; for example, ending in a zero.
One hundred is a nice round number.
8. adj. (linguistics) Pronounced with the lips drawn together.
9. adj. Outspoken; plain and direct; unreserved; not mincing.
a round answer; a round oath
10. adj. Finished; polished; not defective or abrupt; said of authors or their writing style.
11. adj. Consistent; fair; just; applied to conduct.
12. adj. Large in magnitude.
a round sum
13. adj. (authorship, of a fictional character) Well-written and well-characterized; complex and reminiscent of a real person.
14. subst. A circular or spherical object or part of an object.
15. subst. A circular or repetitious route.
hospital rounds
The guards have started their rounds; the prisoner should be caught soon.
16. subst. A general outburst from a group of people at an event.
The candidate got a round of applause after every sentence or two.
17. subst. A song that is sung by groups of people with each subset of people starting at a different time.
18. subst. A serving of something; a portion of something to each person in a group.
They brought us a round of drinks about every thirty minutes.
19. subst. A single individual portion or dose of medicine.
20. subst. One sandwich (two full slices of bread with filling).
21. subst. (arts) A long-bristled, circular-headed paintbrush used in oil and acrylic painting.
22. subst. A firearm cartridge, bullet, or any individual ammunition projectile. Originally referring to the spherical projectile ball of a smoothbore firearm. Compare round shot and solid shot.
23. subst. (sports) One of the specified pre-determined segments of the total time of a sport event, such as a boxing or wrestling match, during which contestants compete before being signaled to stop.
24. subst. (sports) A stage in a competition.
qualifying rounds of the championship
25. subst. (sports) In some sports, e.g. golf or showjumping: one complete way around the course.
26. subst. (engineering, drafting, CAD) A rounded relief or cut at an edge, especially an outside edge, added for a finished appearance and to soften sharp edges.
27. subst. A strip of material with a circular face that covers an edge, gap, or crevice for decorative, sanitary, or security purposes.
All furniture in the nursery had rounds on the edges and in the crevices.
28. subst. (butchery) The hindquarters of a bovine.
29. subst. (dated) A rung, as of a ladder.
30. subst. A crosspiece that joins and braces the legs of a chair.
31. subst. A series of changes or events ending where it began; a series of like events recurring in continuance; a cycle; a periodical revolution.
the round of the seasons; a round of pleasures
32. subst. A course of action or conduct performed by a number of persons in turn, or one after another, as if seated in a circle.
33. subst. A series of duties or tasks which must be performed in turn, and then repeated.
34. subst. A circular dance.
35. subst. Rotation, as in office; succession.
36. subst. A general discharge of firearms by a body of troops in which each soldier fires once.
37. subst. An assembly; a group; a circle.
a round of politicians
38. subst. A brewer's vessel in which the fermentation is concluded, the yeast escaping through the bunghole.
39. subst. (archaic) A vessel filled, as for drinking.
40. subst. (nautical) A round-top.
41. subst. A round of beef.
42. prep. (rare in US) alternative form of around
I look round the room quickly to make sure it's neat.
43. adv. alternative form of around
44. v. To shape something into a curve.
The carpenter rounded the edges of the table.
45. v. (intransitive) To become shaped into a curve.
46. v. (with "out") To finish; to complete; to fill out.
She rounded out her education with only a single mathematics class.
47. v. (intransitive) To approximate a number, especially a decimal number by the closest whole number.
Ninety-five rounds up to one hundred.
48. v. To turn past a boundary.
Helen watched him until he rounded the corner.
49. v. (intransitive) To turn and attack someone or something (used with on).
As a group of policemen went past him, one of them rounded on him, grabbing him by the arm.
50. v. (transitive, baseball) To advance to home plate.
And the runners round the bases on the double by Jones.
51. v. To go round, pass, go past.
52. v. To encircle; to encompass.
53. v. To grow round or full; hence, to attain to fullness, completeness, or perfection.
54. v. (medicine, colloquial) To do ward rounds.
55. v. (obsolete, intransitive) To go round, as a guard; to make the rounds.
56. v. (obsolete, intransitive) To go or turn round; to wheel about.
57. v. (intransitive, archaic, or dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To speak in a low tone; whisper; speak secretly; take counsel.
58. v. (transitive, archaic, or dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To address or speak to in a whisper, utter in a whisper.
59. subst. (archaic, or dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) A whisper; whispering.
60. subst. (archaic, or dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Discourse; song.
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