Meaning of circle in English

1. Pronunciation

   /ˈsərk(ə)l/

   US accent

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   UK accent

   How to pronounce circle in British English, in context ▾
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1. Verb

   circle

   Definitions

   1. travel around something

   Examples

   • « circle the globe »
2. 2. move in circles
3. 3. be around

   Examples

   • « Developments surround the town »
   • « The river encircles the village »
4. 4. form a circle around

   Examples

   • « encircle the errors »

5. Noun

   circle

   Etymology

   Old English, from Old French cercle, from Latin circulus‘small ring’, diminutive of circus‘ring’

   Definitions

   1. ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length

   Examples

   • « a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point »
   • « he calculated the circumference of the circle »
6. 2. an unofficial association of people or groups

   Examples

   • « the smart set goes there »
   • « they were an angry lot »
7. 3. something approximating the shape of a circle

   Examples

   • « the chairs were arranged in a circle »
8. 4. movement once around a course

   Examples

   • « he drove an extra lap just for insurance »
9. 5. a road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island

   Examples

   • « the accident blocked all traffic at the rotary »
10. 6. street names for flunitrazepan
11. 7. a curved section or tier of seats in a hall or theater or opera house

    Examples

    • « usually the first tier above the orchestra »
    • « they had excellent seats in the dress circle »
12. 8. any circular or rotating mechanism

    Examples

    • « the machine punched out metal circles »