rounding

[roun-ding]

adjective

1. round or nearly round.

2. of, relating to, or used for making something round.

3. turning, curving, or circling around.

4. pertaining to the mathematical process of rounding.

   a rounding error.

noun

1. the act or process of making something round.

2. Mathematics.

   1. the process of replacing a number by another number of approximately the same value but having fewer digits.

      To the nearest dollar, the rounding of $27.68 yields $28.

   2. a similar process that specifies one of various rules. Generally, the number is first truncated to one or two digits more than is desired; then the last one or two digits are adjusted in a specified way in order to reflect the magnitude of the original number. In rounding the final digits, 0–4 are simply dropped, 6–9 are dropped after the preceding digit is increased by 1, and 5 is handled in various ways depending on the surrounding digits and the particular convention being followed.

rounding

/ ˈraʊndɪŋ /

noun

1. computing a process in which a number is approximated as the closest number that can be expressed using the number of bits or digits available

Word History and Origins

Origin of rounding¹

First recorded in 1545–55; round ¹ + -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

If bitcoin trades where I think it will 20 years from now, the difference between buying at $20,000 and buying at $85,000 will look like a rounding error.

Read more on MarketWatch

Sam Darnold showed toughness last week and the Seattle defense is rounding into form.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I find myself rounding Autumn on the other side.

Read more on Literature

That remains their only loss of 2025, with a home Test against Argentina on Sunday rounding off England's schedule for the calendar year.

Read more on BBC

State laws in some places can also complicate rounding.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bend 
• loop