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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

See Examples For:

circum- circum.

And that, at least, gave me some hope: that even under ordinary circum- stances, I still might find a way to live an extraordinary life.

From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs

Under these circum- stances the waiter of course felt justified in sitting down at the same table with a gentleman who had come in and asked him for writing materials.

From A Little Tour in France by James, Henry

I take it for granted that a being of infinite wisdom would not waste any force,—that he would not throw away any "omnipotence," and that, under ordinary circum- stances, he would husband his resources.

From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 5 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Discussions by Ingersoll, Robert Green

Here she could see some object which circum- stances proved to be a vehicle for after a few minutes the horse down the road, mingled with the sound of light wheels.

From Far from the Madding Crowd by Hardy, Thomas

Under present circum- stances, I can do nothing.

From The Survivors of the Chancellor by Verne, Jules

The greater production with Metallic Rolls over Common Rolls for a given number of revs. is due to the meshing of the flutes, which increases the effective circum. of the rolls about 33 per cent.

From Illustrated Catalogue of Cotton Machinery by Company, Howard & Bullough American Machine