circle
a closed plane curve consisting of all points at a given distance from a point within it called the center. Equation: x2 + y2 = r2.
the portion of a plane bounded by such a curve.
any circular or ringlike object, formation, or arrangement: a circle of dancers.
a ring, circlet, or crown.
the ring of a circus.
a section of seats in a theater: dress circle.
the area within which something acts, exerts influence, etc.; realm; sphere: A politician has a wide circle of influence.
a series ending where it began, especially when perpetually repeated; cycle: the circle of the year.
Logic. an argument ostensibly proving a conclusion but actually assuming the conclusion or its equivalent as a premise; vicious circle.
a complete series forming a connected whole; cycle: the circle of the sciences.
a number of persons bound by a common tie; coterie: a literary circle;a family circle.
Government. an administrative division, especially of a province.
Geography. a parallel of latitude.
Astronomy.
(formerly) the orbit of a heavenly body.
Surveying. a glass or metal disk mounted concentrically with the spindle of a theodolite or level and graduated so that the angle at which the alidade is set may be read.
a sphere or orb: the circle of the earth.
a ring of light in the sky; halo.
to move in a circle or circuit around; rotate or revolve around: He circled the house cautiously.
to change course so as to pass by or avoid collision with; bypass; evade: The ship carefully circled the iceberg.
to move in a circle or circuit: The plane circled for half an hour before landing.
Movies, Television. to iris (usually followed by in or out).
Idioms about circle
circle the wagons,
(in the early U.S. West) to form the wagons of a covered-wagon train into a circle for defensive purposes, as against Indian attack.
Slang. to prepare for an all-out, unaided defensive fight: The company has circled the wagons since its market share began to decline.
Origin of circle
1synonym study For circle
Other words for circle
Other words from circle
- circler, noun
- in·ter·cir·cle, verb (used with object), in·ter·cir·cled, in·ter·cir·cling.
- re·cir·cle, verb, re·cir·cled, re·cir·cling.
- un·cir·cled, adjective
- un·der·cir·cle, verb (used with object), un·der·cir·cled, un·der·cir·cling.
- un·der·cir·cle, noun
Words Nearby circle
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use circle in a sentence
Unbeknownst to him, there was someone in his circle of friends paying extra close attention to Paul.
A Welcome Lifeline | Washington Regional Transplant Community | September 17, 2020 | Washington BladeVon Spakovsky is highly influential in conservative circles.
No Democrats Allowed: A Conservative Lawyer Holds Secret Voter Fraud Meetings With State Election Officials | by Mike Spies, Jake Pearson and Jessica Huseman | September 15, 2020 | ProPublicaIt’s unclear how ancestral Wichita people used council circles.
Drones find signs of a Native American ‘Great Settlement’ beneath a Kansas pasture | Bruce Bower | September 10, 2020 | Science NewsIn his 2005 book, Inside the Neolithic Mind, Lewis-Williams argues that a similar principle might explain other Neolithic monuments and cult buildings found in the Near East, such as the stone circles of Göbekli Tepe.
An Ancient Site with Human Skulls on Display - Issue 89: The Dark Side | Jo Marchant | September 2, 2020 | NautilusInner groups of simulated stones obscured and scattered sounds reflected off the outer sarsen circle, blocking echo formation.
Stonehenge enhanced sounds like voices or music for people inside the monument | Bruce Bower | August 31, 2020 | Science News
So, Linklater just won Best Director by the New York Film Critics circle.
Coffee Talk with Ethan Hawke: On ‘Boyhood,’ Jennifer Lawrence, and Bill Clinton’s Urinal Exchange | Marlow Stern | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTJulio had come full circle and had returned to Cuba as a tourist in his own country.
The girls ran in the same circle (Palmolive was also in the Flowers of Romance) and the group was looking for a guitarist.
The RSD Facebook page, and all the local RSD groups, known as “inner circle,” have been switched to private.
The Secret World of Pickup Artist Julien Blanc | Brandy Zadrozny | December 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNot before long, I think about four cops went up to the circle and just grabbed a few of the people from behind.
Dispatch From USC Protests over Ferguson | Maya Richard Craven | November 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWharton and Louis had withdrawn their hands at the same instant they caught his eye; and the Duke turned into the circle.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterIt was the conversation of every circle; and discussed according to the dispositions, or views of the speakers.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterWe (the officers) were sitting in a circle round the general and Alcalde, both of whom appeared uneasy and anxious.
His books were read in our homes, often aloud to the family circle by paterfamilias, and moved us to laughter or tears.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowA child's attempt to represent a man appears commonly to begin by drawing a sort of circle for the front view of the head.
Children's Ways | James Sully
British Dictionary definitions for circle
/ (ˈsɜːkəl) /
maths a closed plane curve every point of which is equidistant from a given fixed point, the centre. Equation: (x –h)² + (y –k)² = r ² where r is the radius and (h, k) are the coordinates of the centre; area πr²; circumference: 2π r
the figure enclosed by such a curve
theatre the section of seats above the main level of the auditorium, usually comprising the dress circle and the upper circle
something formed or arranged in the shape of a circle
a group of people sharing an interest, activity, upbringing, etc; set: golf circles; a family circle
a domain or area of activity, interest, or influence
a circuit
a process or chain of events or parts that forms a connected whole; cycle
a parallel of latitude: See also great circle, small circle
the ring of a circus
one of a number of Neolithic or Bronze Age rings of standing stones, such as Stonehenge, found in Europe and thought to be associated with some form of ritual or astronomical measurement
hockey See striking circle
a circular argument: See vicious circle (def. 2)
come full circle to arrive back at one's starting point: See also vicious circle
go round in circles or run round in circles to engage in energetic but fruitless activity
to move in a circle (around): we circled the city by car
(tr) to enclose in a circle; encircle
Origin of circle
1Derived forms of circle
- circler, noun
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 circle
[ sûr′kəl ]
A closed curve whose points are all on the same plane and at the same distance from a fixed point (the center).
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with circle
see full circle; go around (in circles); run around (in circles); run rings (circles) around; vicious circle.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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