round

[ round ]

/ raʊnd /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: round / rounded / rounder / rounding on Thesaurus.com

adjective, round·er, round·est.

having a flat, circular surface, as a disk.

ring-shaped, as a hoop.

curved like part of a circle, as an outline.

having a circular cross section, as a cylinder; cylindrical.

spherical or globular, as a ball.

shaped more or less like a part of a sphere; hemispherical.

free from angularity; consisting of full, curved lines or shapes, as handwriting or parts of the body.

executed with or involving circular motion.

full, complete, or entire: a round dozen.

noting, formed, or expressed by an integer or whole number with no fraction.

expressed, given, or exact to the nearest multiple or power of ten; in tens, hundreds, thousands, or the like: in round numbers.

roughly correct; approximate: a round guess.

considerable in amount; ample: a round sum of money.

brought to completeness or perfection.

full and sonorous, as sound.

vigorous or brisk: a round trot.

straightforward, plain, or candid; outspoken: a round scolding.

positive or unqualified: a round assertion.

noun

any round shape, as a circle, ring or sphere.

a circular, ring-shaped, curved, or spherical object; a rounded form.

something circular in cross section, as a rung of a ladder or chair.

Sometimes rounds . a completed course of time, series of events or operations, etc., ending at a point corresponding to that at the beginning: We waited through the round of many years.

any complete course, series, or succession: The strike was settled after a long round of talks; a round of parties.

Often rounds . a going around from place to place, as in a habitual or definite circuit: a doctor's rounds.

a completed course or spell of activity, commonly one of a series, in some play or sport: the second round of a tournament.

a recurring period of time, succession of events, duties, etc.: the daily round.

an entire range: the round of human capabilities.

a single outburst, as of applause or cheers.

a single discharge of shot by each of a number of guns, rifles, etc.

a single discharge by one firearm.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot.

a single serving, especially of drink, made more or less simultaneously to everyone present, as at table or at a bar: The next round is on me.

round dance.

movement in a circle or around an axis.

Cooking.

Also round of beef . the portion of the thigh of beef below the rump and above the leg.
Informal. round steak.

a slice, as of bread.

Archery. a specified number of arrows shot from a specified distance from the target in accordance with the rules.

one of a series of three-minute periods making up a boxing match: a 15-round bout.

Music.

a short, rhythmical canon at the unison, in which the several voices enter at equally spaced intervals of time.
rounds, the order followed in ringing a peal of bells in diatonic sequence from the highest to the lowest.

Golf. a playing of the complete course.

Cards. a division of play in a game, consisting of a turn each for every player to bid, bet, play a card, deal the cards, or be dealt cards.

adverb

throughout or from the beginning to the end of a recurring period of time: all year round.

Also 'round . around: The music goes round and round.

preposition

throughout (a period of time): a resort visited all round the year.

around: It happened round noon.

verb (used with object)

to make round.

to free from angularity; fill out symmetrically; make plump.

to bring to completeness or perfection; finish.

Jewelry. to form (a gem) roughly (sometimes followed by up); girdle.

to end (a sentence, paragraph, etc.) with something specified: He rounded his speech with a particularly apt quotation.

to encircle or surround.

to make a complete circuit of; pass completely around.

to make a turn or partial circuit around or to the other side of: to round a corner.

to cause to move in a circle; turn around.

Phonetics.

to make the opening at (the lips) relatively round or pursed during an utterance.
to pronounce (a speech sound, especially a vowel) with rounded lips; labialize.
to contract (the lips) laterally.Compare spread (def. 14b), unround.

Mathematics. to replace by the nearest multiple of 10, with 5 being increased to the next highest multiple: 15,837 can be rounded to 15,840; then to 15,800; then to 16,000.

verb (used without object)

to become round.

to become free from angularity; become plump.

to develop to completeness or perfection.

to take a circular course; make a circuit, as a guard.

to make a turn or partial circuit around something.

to turn around as on an axis: to round on one's heels.

to reduce successively the number of digits to the right of the decimal point of a mixed number by dropping the final digit and adding 1 to the next preceding digit if the dropped digit was 5 or greater, or leaving the preceding digit unchanged if the dropped digit was 4 or less.

Verb Phrases

round off,

to complete or perfect; finish.
to express as a round number, usually to the nearest multiple of 10.

round out,

to complete or perfect: The new coin rounded out his collection.
to fill out; become rounder: She rounded out so nicely that everyone soon forgot she had been so ill.

round to, Nautical. to turn a sailing vessel in the direction from which the wind is blowing.

round up,

to drive or bring (cattle, sheep, etc.) together.
to assemble; gather: to round up all the suspects in an investigation.

OTHER WORDS FOR round

9 whole, unbroken.

20 cylinder.

22 cycle, revolution, period.

See synonyms for round on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR round

1 angular.

See antonyms for round on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about round

in the round,

(of a theater) having a stage completely surrounded by seats for the audience.
in the style of theater-in-the-round: The play should be done in the round.
in complete detail; from all aspects: a character as seen in the round.
(of sculpture) not attached to a supporting background; freestanding.

make the rounds,

to go from one place to another, as in making deliveries, paying social visits, or seeking employment.
Also go the rounds . to be reported or told; circulate: another rumor making the rounds.

Origin of round

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English adjective round(e), roende, rount, from Old French, ront, earlier reont, from Vulgar Latin retondus (unattested), from Latin rotundus “wheel-shaped, round, circular”; Middle English noun partly derivative of the adjective, partly from Old French rond, ronde (derivative of ront ); Middle English verb derivative of the adjective; Middle English adverb and preposition apparently shortened variant of around;see rotund

OTHER WORDS FROM round

roundness, noun

Words nearby round

roulette, Roum., Roumania, Roumanian, Roumelia, round, roundabout, roundabout chair, round and round, round angle, round arch

Other definitions for round (2 of 2)

round²

[ round ]

/ raʊnd /

verb (used with or without object) Archaic.

to whisper.

Origin of round

First recorded before 1000; Middle English rounen, rounne, rounde, ronde “to speak softly, whisper, gossip,” Old English rūnian “to talk low, whisper, mutter,” derivative of rūn “a secret conversation, consultation, counsel”; excrescent -d as in sound;see also rune¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use round in a sentence

In his November post announcing the Earth Fund’s first round of donations, Bezos mentioned a “group of incredibly smart people” who were guiding his decisions.
Can Billionaires Really Save Us from Climate Disaster?|Heather Hansman|February 12, 2021|Outside Online
He led all Eastern Conference guards by a wide margin Thursday when the league released the second round of NBA all-star voting.
Bradley Beal will miss Friday’s game against the Knicks for rest|Ava Wallace|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
For non-climbers, the four-mile round-trip hike to Chimney Rock promises panoramic views.
4 Awesome Winter Road Trips to National Parks|Megan Michelson|February 11, 2021|Outside Online
Money makes the world go ’round, and as such, it’s a perfect tool for surveillance and control.
Bitcoin’s Blowing Up, and That’s Good News for Human Rights. Here’s Why|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|February 10, 2021|Singularity Hub

Memphis Meats had a record-breaking $186 million second round of funding, followed by Mosa Meat’s $75 million round later in the year.
Raising the steaks: First 3-D-printed rib-eye is unveiled|Laura Reiley|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
France 24 is providing live, round-the-clock coverage of both scenes as they progress.
LIVE Coverage of the Paris Terror Attacks||January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Wrapees was the term marines used for the Japanese because they had wrapping round their legs.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
After a bunch of tough talk, this round of the hacker-on-hacker fight nevered materialized.
The Attack on the Hidden Internet|Marc Rogers|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Divide the dough in half and very gently pat each half into a round 1-inch-thick disk.
Make ‘The Chew’s’ Carla Hall’s Pumpkin Pecan Pie|Carla Hall|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But others say a still-unidentified man likely fired the round that caused a lethal head wound.
Exclusive: Bin Laden ‘Shooter’ Under Investigation for Leaking Secrets|Shane Harris|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of course, considerations of weight have to be taken into account, but the more mould round the roots the better.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
In cross-section the burrows varied from round (three inches in diameter) to oval (three inches high and four inches wide).
Summer Birds From the Yucatan Peninsula|Erwin E. Klaas
There were at least a dozen ladies seated round the big table at the Parsonage.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Mr. Jones swung round a large iron key he held in his hand, and light dawned upon him.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
Sol got up, slowly; took a backward step into the yard; filled his lungs, opened his mouth, made his eyes round.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden

British Dictionary definitions for round

round

/ (raʊnd) /

adjective

having a flat circular shape, as a disc or hoop

having the shape of a sphere or ball

curved; not angular

involving or using circular motion

(prenominal) complete; entirea round dozen

maths

forming or expressed by an integer or whole number, with no fraction
expressed to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousandin round figures

(of a sum of money) considerable; ample

fully depicted or developed, as a character in a book

full and plumpround cheeks

(of sound) full and sonorous

(of pace) brisk; lively

(prenominal) (of speech) candid; straightforward; unmodifieda round assertion

(of a vowel) pronounced with rounded lips

noun

a round shape or object

in the round

in full detail
theatre with the audience all round the stage

a session, as of a negotiationa round of talks

a series, cycle, or sequencea giddy round of parties

the daily round the usual activities of one's day

a stage of a competitionhe was eliminated in the first round

(often plural) a series of calls, esp in a set ordera doctor's rounds; a milkman's round

a playing of all the holes on a golf course

a single turn of play by each player, as in a card game

one of a number of periods constituting a boxing, wrestling, or other match, each usually lasting three minutes

archery a specified number of arrows shot from a specified distance

a single discharge by a number of guns or a single gun

a bullet, blank cartridge, or other charge of ammunition

a number of drinks bought at one time for a group of people

a single slice of bread or toast or two slices making a single serving of sandwiches

a general outburst of applause, cheering, etc

movement in a circle or around an axis

music a part song in which the voices follow each other at equal intervals at the same pitch

a sequence of bells rung in order of treble to tenorCompare change (def. 29)

a dance in which the dancers move in a circle

a cut of beef from the thigh between the rump and the shank

go the rounds or make the rounds

to go from place to place, as in making deliveries or social calls
(of information, rumour, etc) to be passed around, so as to be generally known

preposition

surrounding, encircling, or enclosinga band round her head

on all or most sides ofto look round one

on or outside the circumference or perimeter ofthe stands round the racecourse

situated at various points ina lot of shelves round the house

from place to place indriving round Ireland

somewhere in or nearto stay round the house

making a circuit or partial circuit aboutthe ring road round the town

reached by making a partial circuit about somethingthe shop round the corner

revolving round a centre or axisthe earth's motion round its axis

so as to have a basis inthe story is built round a good plot

adverb

on all or most sidesthe garden is fenced all round; the crowd gathered round

on or outside the circumference or perimeterthe racing track is two miles round

in all directions from a point of referencehe owns the land for ten miles round

to all members of a grouppass the food round

in rotation or revolutionthe wheels turn round

by a circuitous routethe road to the farm goes round by the pond

to a specific placeshe came round to see me

all year round throughout the year; in every month

verb

to make or become round

(tr) to encircle; surround

to move or cause to move with circular motionto round a bend

(tr)

to pronounce (a speech sound) with rounded lips
to purse (the lips)

Derived forms of round

roundness, noun

Word Origin for round

C13: from Old French ront, from Latin rotundus round, from rota a wheel

undefined round

See around

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

Cultural definitions for round

round

A song that can be begun at different times by different singers, but with harmonious singing (see harmony) as the result. “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” is a round.

Other Idioms and Phrases with round

round

In addition to the idioms beginning with round

round and round
round figures
round off
round on
round out
round peg in a square hole
round robin
round the bend
round trip
round up

also see:

all year round
bring around (round)
come around (round)
get around (round)
in round numbers
in the round
make the rounds
other way round
pull round
rally around

Also see underaround.

round

OTHER WORDS FOR round

OPPOSITES FOR round

Idioms about round

Origin of round

OTHER WORDS FROM round

Words nearby round

Other definitions for round (2 of 2)

Origin of round

Words related to round

How to use round in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for round

Derived forms of round

Word Origin for round

undefined round

Cultural definitions for round

Other Idioms and Phrases with round