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circumference
[ ser-kuhm-fer-uhns ]
/ sərˈkʌm fər əns /
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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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Origin of circumference
Words nearby circumference
circumcenter, circumcircle, circumcise, circumcision, circumcolumnar, circumference, circumferential, circumferentor, circumfix, circumflex, circumfluent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use circumference in a sentence
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 forms of circumference
circumferential (səˌkʌmfəˈrɛnʃəl), adjectivecircumferentially, adverbWord 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
Scientific definitions for circumference
circumference
[ sÉ™r-kÅm′fÉ™r-É™ns ]
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.
Cultural 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.