small circle

American  

noun

1. a circle on a sphere, the plane of which does not pass through the center of the sphere.

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small circle British  

noun

1. a circular section of a sphere that does not contain the centre of the sphere Compare great circle

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Etymology

Origin of small circle

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

small circle

Apart from her, only a small circle knows where he will be even two hours ahead.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

Powell himself hasn’t signaled which way he is leaning, and the small circle of advisers and friends who might know are declining to discuss it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 2026

The Justice Department says that Van Dyke “participated in the planning and execution of the U.S. military operation,” leaving him in the small circle of humans who could blow the secret.

From Slate ● Apr. 24, 2026

He expected the episode would be “a huge shock for people” who are fans of the show, with only a small circle of “NCIS”-related folks in the loop before Tuesday night.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2026

He had to delegate authority to a small circle of trusted manhunters, including Lieutenant Lafayette Baker, newly arrived from New York.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson