circumferential

[ ser-kuhm-fuh-ren-shuhl ]

adjective

1. of, at, or near the circumference; surrounding; lying along the outskirts.
2. lying within the circumference.
3. circuitous; indirect:

   a circumferential manner of speech.

Word History and Origins

Origin of circumferential¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin circumferenti(a) + -al; circumference, -al ¹

Example Sentences

The circumferential speed of a blade at the midspan point is 315 feet per second.

From Popular-Science

Virtually every large metropolis in the world now has such circumferential roads that avoid inner-city traffic.

From The Daily Beast

The circumferential speed of the drill should not much exceed 10 feet per minute.

From Project Gutenberg

All the aspects of his circumferential existence, island-like in the dividing indigo of a magic sea, pleased him equally.

From Project Gutenberg

The circumferential slip (b) lies over (as viewed from within) both the basal and wall membrane.

From Project Gutenberg

The circumferential pitch is of course got by dividing the diametral pitch by π.

From Project Gutenberg

This latter is a circumferential panel about midway between the top and bottom of the bell.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• neighboring