circumnavigate

American  

[sur-kuhm-nav-i-geyt] / ˌsɜr kəmˈnæv ɪˌgeɪt /

verb (used with object)

circumnavigated, circumnavigating

1. to sail or fly around; make the circuit of by navigation.

   to circumnavigate the earth.

2. to go or maneuver around.

   to circumnavigate the heavy downtown traffic.

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circumnavigate British  

/ ˌsɜːkəmˈnævɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to sail or fly completely around

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Other Word Forms

• circumnavigable adjective
• circumnavigation noun
• circumnavigator noun
• circumnavigatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of circumnavigate

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

Example Sentences

He competed in the America’s Cup seven times and twice circumnavigated the globe, becoming the first American skipper to win one of sailing’s toughest challenges, the Whitbread Round the World Race, in 1998.

From Seattle Times

The memorial is known as “the Embrace” — a concept rendered as a pair of symmetrical V-shaped berms containing two low-lying fountains circumnavigated by a gravel path.

From Los Angeles Times

He is credited for defeating the Spanish Armada's invasion of England in 1588 and also became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe.

From BBC

Shepard’s team found that streaked shearwaters circumnavigated storms when far out at sea.

From Scientific American

On Saturday morning there were times when @FlyLAXStats showed the time to circle the lower airport road was five minutes, half the time to circumnavigate the upper level.

From Los Angeles Times