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• circum-
  circum-

  a prefix with the meaning “round about, around,” found in Latin loanwords, especially derivatives of verbs that had the general senses “to encompass or surround” (circumference; circumjacent; circumstance ) or “to go around” by the means or in the manner specified by the verb (circumnavigate; circumscribe ); on this basis forming adjectives in English with the meaning “surrounding” that named by the stem (circumocular; circumpolar ).
• circum.
  circum.

  abbreviation

  circumference.
• circum–
  circum–

  A prefix meaning “around”, as in circumscribe, to draw a figure around another figure.

circum-

¹ American  

1. a prefix with the meaning “round about, around,” found in Latin loanwords, especially derivatives of verbs that had the general senses “to encompass or surround” (circumference; circumjacent; circumstance ) or “to go around” by the means or in the manner specified by the verb (circumnavigate; circumscribe ); on this basis forming adjectives in English with the meaning “surrounding” that named by the stem (circumocular; circumpolar ).

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circum. ² American  

abbreviation

1. circumference.

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circum- British  

prefix

1. around; surrounding; on all sides

   circumlocution

   circumrotate

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circum– Scientific  

1. A prefix meaning “around”, as in circumscribe, to draw a figure around another figure.

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Etymology

Origin of circum-

From Latin circum “around” (accusative of circus; see circus, circle), originally as an adverb fixed in relation to the verb, later construed as a prefix

Example Sentences

Simonides, qui scripsit egregium melos, Quo paupertatem sustineret facilius, Circum ire coepit urbes Asiae nobiles, 5 Mercede accepta laudem victorum canens.

From Helps to Latin Translation at Sight by Luce, Edmund

Who while Circum pracordia ludit, giveth us to feel, how many headaches a passionate life bringeth us to.

From English literary criticism by Various

Circum verò Insulam, per septem aut octo menses fluctuat glacies, miserabilem quendam gemitum, & ab humana voce non alienum, ex collisione edens.

From The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 01 by Hakluyt, Richard

Circum praecordia ludit, "he plays about the heartstrings," said Persius, long before any of these, when the actual Horace was still fresh in the memory of men.

From Horace and His Influence by Showerman, Grant

Illi indignantes magno cum murmure montis Circum claustra fremunt.

From Shelburne Essays, Third Series by More, Paul Elmer