rotundity
Americannoun
plural
rotundities-
the condition or quality of roundness or plumpness, as of an object or person.
-
fullness, as in tone or speech.
-
a full or rounded tone, phrase, or the like.
oratorical rotundities.
Other Word Forms
- subrotundity noun
Etymology
Origin of rotundity
From the Latin word rotunditās, dating back to 1580–90. See rotund, -ity
Explanation
When you talk about the rotundity, or roundness, of a voice, you're talking about how full-bodied and easily heard it is. The rotundity of a person is how round they are in the belly. Any 3D object that has a roundness to it can be described in terms of its rotundity. The word rotundity comes from the Latin rotundus meaning "round, circular, wheel-like." A rotunda is a circular building with a dome over it. The rotundity or roundness of its structure is what gives it its name. The rotundity of an opera singer's voice is what allows her song to carry and fill a room. The rotundity of Santa Claus' belly is part of what makes him the jolly character we love so much.
Vocabulary lists containing rotundity
The Scarlet Letter
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King Lear
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The Fault in Our Stars
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Obviously, the phases of the moon depend on orbital mechanics and not on whether the atmosphere lets us see our satellite at or near its time of maximum rotundity and brightness.
From Washington Post • Apr. 16, 2022
Kopites were prepared to overlook his obvious rotundity and the involuntary fetish for figure-hugging skin-tight football shirts almost 30 years before they became fashionable.
From The Guardian • Oct. 24, 2014
A decade after his death you'll still hear people attacking bread, pasta and potatoes as the root of all rotundity.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2013
Toby Jones plays the slavemaster of suspense; he captures with marvelous precision the glutinous rotundity of Hitchcock’s vowels, but his jowls leave something to be desired.
From Slate • Oct. 19, 2012
Peter Van Houten wore a white linen suit, tailored to account for his rotundity, a powder-blue dress shirt, and a green tie.
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
