definitions

circumference

[ ser-kuhm-fer-uhns ]
/ sərˈkʌm fər əns /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR circumference ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the outer boundary, especially of a circular area; perimeter: the circumference of a circle.
the length of such a boundary: a one-mile circumference.
the area within a bounding line: the vast circumference of his mind.

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RELATED WORDS

girth, ambit, outline, extremity, margin, fringe, confines, rim, lip, periphery, circuit, compass, boundary, border, verge

Nearby words

circumcircle, circumcise, circumcision, circumcolumnar, circumduction, circumference, circumferential, circumferential fibrocartilage, circumferential lamella, circumferentor, circumfix

Origin of circumference

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin circumferentia, equivalent to circum- circum- + fer- (stem of ferre to carry) + -entia -ence
Can be confusedcircumference diameter radius tangent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for circumference

British Dictionary definitions for circumference

circumference

/ (səˈkʌmfərəns) /

noun

the boundary of a specific area or geometric figure, esp of a circle
the length of a closed geometric curve, esp of a circle. The circumference of a circle is equal to the diameter multiplied by π
Derived Formscircumferential (səˌkʌmfəˈrɛnʃəl), adjectivecircumferentially, adverb

Word Origin for circumference

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

Word Origin and History for circumference

circumference

n.

late 14c., from Latin circumferentia, neuter plural of circumferens, present participle of circumferre "to lead around, take around, carry around," from circum "around" (see circum-) + ferre "to carry" (see infer). A loan-translation of Greek periphereia "periphery, the line round a circular body," literally "a carrying round" (see periphery). Related: Circumferential.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Science definitions for circumference

circumference

[ sər-kŭm′fər-əns ]

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

Culture 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.