circumference
Americannoun
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the boundary of a specific area or geometric figure, esp of a circle
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the length of a closed geometric curve, esp of a circle. The circumference of a circle is equal to the diameter multiplied by π
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The boundary line of a circle.
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The boundary line of a figure, area, or object.
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The length of such a boundary. The circumference of a circle is computed by multiplying the diameter by pi.
Other Word Forms
- circumferential adjective
- circumferentially adverb
Etymology
Origin of circumference
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin circumferentia, equivalent to circum- circum- + fer- (stem of ferre to carry) + -entia -ence
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Other anthropomorphic measures -- including waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-hip ratio -- can provide additional insight by distinguishing fat mass from muscle and identifying abdominal fat linked to disease risk.
From Science Daily
The country has the world's largest rail network -- one-fifth longer than the circumference of the earth.
From Barron's
But the sheer sort of circumference of the dress makes her a woman who comes into a room and takes up space.
From Los Angeles Times
The star is then assembled by placing a small bowl in the center of the dough layers and cutting around the bowl’s circumference, through all three layers.
From Salon
Some of the fighters were wearing RSF style uniforms, one of which has a circular patch with a black line running around the circumference - consistent with the paramilitary's insignia.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
