circumference

[ ser-kuhm-fer-uhns ]
See synonyms for circumference on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the outer boundary, especially of a circular area; perimeter: the circumference of a circle.

  2. the length of such a boundary: a one-mile circumference.

  1. the area within a bounding line: the vast circumference of his mind.

Origin of circumference

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Late Latin circumferentia, equivalent to circum-circum- + fer- (stem of ferre to carry) + -entia-ence

Other words for circumference

Words that may be confused with circumference

Words Nearby circumference

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How to use circumference in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for circumference

circumference

/ (səˈkʌmfərəns) /


noun
  1. the boundary of a specific area or geometric figure, esp of a circle

  2. the length of a closed geometric curve, esp of a circle. The circumference of a circle is equal to the diameter multiplied by π

Origin of circumference

1
C14: from Old French circonference, from Latin circumferre to carry around, from circum- + ferre to bear

Derived forms of circumference

  • circumferential (səˌkʌmfəˈrɛnʃəl), adjective
  • circumferentially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for circumference

circumference

[ sər-kŭmfər-əns ]


  1. The boundary line of a circle.

  2. The boundary line of a figure, area, or object.

  1. The length of such a boundary. The circumference of a circle is computed by multiplying the diameter by pi.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for circumference

circumference

[ (suhr-kum-fuhr-uhns) ]


The measure of the distance around a circle.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.