circumnavigate

[ sur-kuh m-nav-i-geyt ]

/ ˌsɜr kəmˈnæv ɪˌgeɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR circumnavigate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), cir·cum·nav·i·gat·ed, cir·cum·nav·i·gat·ing.

to sail or fly around; make the circuit of by navigation: to circumnavigate the earth.

to go or maneuver around: to circumnavigate the heavy downtown traffic.

Nearby words

circumgyration, circumincession, circumjacent, circumlocution, circumlunar, circumnavigation, circumnavigation, circumnutate, circumnutation, circumocular, circumpolar

Origin of circumnavigate

1625–35; < Latin circumnāvigātus (past participle of circumnāvigāre), equivalent to circum- circum- + nāvigātus; see navigate

Related formscir·cum·nav·i·ga·ble

[sur-kuh m-nav-i-guh-buh l] /ˌsɜr kəmˈnæv ɪ gə bəl/, adjectivecir·cum·nav·i·ga·tion, nouncir·cum·nav·i·ga·tor, nouncir·cum·nav·i·ga·to·ry

[sur-kuh m-nav-i-guh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˌsɜr kəmˈnæv ɪ gəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for circumnavigation

The only way whereby this could be accomplished was by a circumnavigation of the Continent of Africa.
The History of Ancient America, Anterior to the Time of Columbus|George Jones
It must be remembered that he was twice to see the king, once on his tour of circumnavigation, and then after he had completed it.
Stanley in Africa|James P. Boyd
While Banks searched for insects and plants, Cook sat writing up his Journal of the circumnavigation.
A Book of Discovery|Margaret Bertha (M. B.) Synge
The discovery of the line of no magnetic variation, which, as we shall see, eventually led to the circumnavigation of the earth.
History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume II (of 2)|John William Draper

By the union of these two parties, the circumnavigation of Lake Michigan had been completely made.
Summary Narrative of an Exploratory Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi River, in 1820|Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

British Dictionary definitions for circumnavigation

circumnavigate

/ (ˌsɜːkəmˈnævɪˌɡeɪt) /

verb

(tr) to sail or fly completely around

Derived Formscircumnavigable, adjectivecircumnavigation, nouncircumnavigator, 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

Word Origin and History for circumnavigation (1 of 2)

circumnavigation

1705, from circumnavigate + -ion.

Word Origin and History for circumnavigation (1 of 2)

circumnavigate

1630s, from Latin circumnavigatus, past participle of circumnavigare "to sail round," from circum "around" (see circum-) + navigare (see navigation). Related: Circumnavigated; circumnavigating; circumnavigable.

circumnavigate

verb (used with object), cir·cum·nav·i·gat·ed, cir·cum·nav·i·gat·ing.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of circumnavigate

Examples from the Web for circumnavigation

British Dictionary definitions for circumnavigation

circumnavigate

verb

Word Origin and History for circumnavigation (1 of 2)

circumnavigation

Word Origin and History for circumnavigation (1 of 2)

circumnavigate