round
1having 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.
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.
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.
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.
throughout (a period of time): a resort visited all round the year.
around: It happened round noon.
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.
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.
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.
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
1Other words for round
Opposites for round
Other words from round
- roundness, noun
Words Nearby round
Other definitions for round (2 of 2)
to whisper.
Origin of round
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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 OnlineHe 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 PostFor 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 OnlineMoney 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 HubMemphis 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.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTAfter a bunch of tough talk, this round of the hacker-on-hacker fight nevered materialized.
Divide the dough in half and very gently pat each half into a round 1-inch-thick disk.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTOf 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 BastinIn 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. KlaasThere were at least a dozen ladies seated round the big table at the Parsonage.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsMr. Jones swung round a large iron key he held in his hand, and light dawned upon him.
Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry WoodSol 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
/ (raʊnd) /
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; entire: a round dozen
maths
forming or expressed by an integer or whole number, with no fraction
expressed to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand: in round figures
(of a sum of money) considerable; ample
fully depicted or developed, as a character in a book
full and plump: round cheeks
(of sound) full and sonorous
(of pace) brisk; lively
(prenominal) (of speech) candid; straightforward; unmodified: a round assertion
(of a vowel) pronounced with rounded lips
a round shape or object
in the round
in full detail
theatre with the audience all round the stage
a session, as of a negotiation: a round of talks
a series, cycle, or sequence: a giddy round of parties
the daily round the usual activities of one's day
a stage of a competition: he was eliminated in the first round
(often plural) a series of calls, esp in a set order: a 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 tenor: Compare 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
surrounding, encircling, or enclosing: a band round her head
on all or most sides of: to look round one
on or outside the circumference or perimeter of: the stands round the racecourse
situated at various points in: a lot of shelves round the house
from place to place in: driving round Ireland
somewhere in or near: to stay round the house
making a circuit or partial circuit about: the ring road round the town
reached by making a partial circuit about something: the shop round the corner
revolving round a centre or axis: the earth's motion round its axis
so as to have a basis in: the story is built round a good plot
on all or most sides: the garden is fenced all round; the crowd gathered round
on or outside the circumference or perimeter: the racing track is two miles round
in all directions from a point of reference: he owns the land for ten miles round
to all members of a group: pass the food round
in rotation or revolution: the wheels turn round
by a circuitous route: the road to the farm goes round by the pond
to a specific place: she came round to see me
all year round throughout the year; in every month
to make or become round
(tr) to encircle; surround
to move or cause to move with circular motion: to round a bend
(tr)
to pronounce (a speech sound) with rounded lips
to purse (the lips)
Origin of round
1round
- See also round down, round off, round on, round out, round up
Derived forms of round
- roundness, 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
Cultural definitions for 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.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with 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.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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