circumference

American  

[ser-kuhm-fer-uhns] / sərˈkʌm fər əns /

noun

1. the outer boundary, especially of a circular area; perimeter.

   the circumference of a circle.

   Synonyms:

   circuit, periphery

2. the length of such a boundary.

   a one-mile circumference.

3. the area within a bounding line.

   the vast circumference of his mind.

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circumference British  

/ səˌkʌmfəˈrɛnʃəl, 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

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circumference Scientific  

/ sər-kŭm′fər-əns /

1. The boundary line of a circle.

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

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

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circumference Cultural  

1. The measure of the distance around a circle.

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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

Explanation

The distance around a circle is called the circumference, and although circumference is often used when talking about round things, it can mean a boundary of any shape that completely surrounds something. It’s no coincidence that the first part of circumference looks like circle. The Latin word circum means “around,” and the root ferre is the Latin verb for “carry,” so imagine carrying a puppy around a circle pit of lava: the path you walk is the circumference. If you want to buy a new hat, you’ll need to measure the circumference of your head, and patrolling the circumference of your castle is a good way to protect against dragons.

Example Sentences

This use of a shifting narrative voice is particularly moving in Marita Golden’s novel “The Wide Circumference of Love.”

From Washington Post • Mar. 4, 2022

Johnson of Circumference FS and John Lewis of HighWater Ltd. – are directors at 60 other companies affiliated with the Goldman Sachs Group.

From Salon • Jan. 17, 2020

Circumference: Wrap a tape measure around the tree at a point that is 4 1 2 feet above the ground.

From Washington Post • Apr. 11, 2014

DoubleX Gabfest: The Circumspect Circumference Edition Listen to ’s show about prenatal depression, hot Olympic bodies, and cosmetic surgery for teenage girls.

From Slate • Aug. 9, 2012

The Obturator Externus ariseth from the outward Circumference of the same Hole of one Ischion, and is terminated in the side of the other near the great Trochanter.

From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Le Clerc, Charles Gabriel

Related Words

• girth