rotundity

American  

[roh-tuhn-di-tee] / roʊˈtʌn dɪ ti /

Sometimes rotundness

noun

rotundities plural

1. the condition or quality of roundness or plumpness, as of an object or person.

2. fullness, as in tone or speech.

3. a full or rounded tone, phrase, or the like.

   oratorical rotundities.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subrotundity
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• rotundities
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rotundity rotundities

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

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

Sarah Millican embraces her rotundity as a liberation, Les Dawson used his to give a ridiculous wobble to his deadpan patter.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 28, 2012

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

Squeezing his rotundity past the obstructing passengers, he entered the compartment, Poirot close behind him.

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie

What if Goodyear and Firestone were to stop producing bulging pneumatic rotundities that tread softly and squeal raffishly?

From Time Magazine Archive

The intricate bumps and hollows, bosses and knots and smooth rotundities of the bodily landscape were generalized down to patches.

From Time Magazine Archive

A rude furnace made of fire-rock was the prominent feature of the place, and on it glimmered the pleasing rotundities of a small copper still.

From The Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains by Murfree, Mary Noailles

She merely sported, pursuing him with gay ridicule, mangling his pet quotations, smiling at his swelling rotundities.

From Lalage's Lovers by Birmingham, George A.

A hansom appeared and disappeared, the white horse seen now against the green blinds of a semi-detached villa and shown a moment after against the yellow rotundities of a group of pottery ovens.

From A Mummer's Wife by Moore, George (George Augustus)