circle
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cir·cle
(sûr′kəl)n.
1.
a. A plane curve everywhere equidistant from a given fixed point, the center.
b. A planar region bounded by a circle.
c. Something, such as a ring, shaped like such a plane curve.
2. A circular or nearly circular course, circuit, or orbit: a satellite's circle around the earth.
3. A traffic circle.
4. A series or process that finishes at its starting point or continuously repeats itself; a cycle.
5. A group of people sharing an interest, activity, or achievement: well-known in artistic circles.
6. A territorial or administrative division, especially of a province, in some European countries.
7. A sphere of influence or interest; domain.
8. Logic A vicious circle.
v. cir·cled, cir·cling, cir·cles
v.tr.
1. To make or form a circle around: The hedge circles the fountain.
2. To move in a circle around: The ship circled the island.
v.intr.
Idiom: To move in a circle. See Synonyms at turn.
circle the wagons
To take a defensive position; become defensive.
[Middle English cercle, from Old French, from Latin circulus, diminutive of circus, circle, from Greek kirkos, krikos; see sker- in Indo-European roots.]
cir′cler (-klər) n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
circle
(ˈsɜːkəl)n
1. (Mathematics) maths a closed plane curve every point of which is equidistant from a given fixed point, the centre. Equation: (x –h)2 + (y –k)2 = r2 where r is the radius and (h, k) are the coordinates of the centre; area πr2; circumference: 2πr
2. (Mathematics) the figure enclosed by such a curve
3. (Theatre) theatre the section of seats above the main level of the auditorium, usually comprising the dress circle and the upper circle
4. something formed or arranged in the shape of a circle
5. a group of people sharing an interest, activity, upbringing, etc; set: golf circles; a family circle.
6. a domain or area of activity, interest, or influence
7. a circuit
8. a process or chain of events or parts that forms a connected whole; cycle
9. (Physical Geography) a parallel of latitude. See also great circle, small circle
10. the ring of a circus
11. (Archaeology) one of a number of Neolithic or Bronze Age rings of standing stones, such as Stonehenge, found in Europe and thought to be associated with some form of ritual or astronomical measurement
12. (Hockey (Field & Ice)) hockey See striking circle
13. (Logic) a circular argument. See vicious circle2
14. come full circle to arrive back at one's starting point. See also vicious circle
15. go round in circles run round in circles to engage in energetic but fruitless activity
vb
16. to move in a circle (around): we circled the city by car.
17. (tr) to enclose in a circle; encircle
[C14: from Latin circulus a circular figure, from circus ring, circle]
ˈcircler n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
cir•cle
(ˈsɜr kəl)n., v. -cled, -cling. n.
1. a closed plane curve consisting of all points at a given distance from a point within it called the center.
2. the portion of a plane bounded by such a curve.
3. any circular or ringlike object, formation, or arrangement: a circle of dancers.
4. a ring, circlet, or crown.
5. the ring of a circus.
6. a section of seats in a theater. Compare dress circle, family circle (def. 2).
7. the area within which something acts, exerts influence, etc.; realm; sphere: a wide circle of influence.
8. a series ending where it began or forming a connected whole; cycle.
9. an argument ostensibly proving a conclusion but actually assuming the conclusion as a premise; vicious circle.
10. a number of persons bound by a common tie; coterie: a circle of friends.
11. an administrative division, esp. of a province.
12. a parallel of latitude.
13. a sphere or orb: the circle of the earth.
v.t. 14. to enclose in a circle; encircle: Circle the correct answer.
15. to rotate or revolve around: He circled the house cautiously.
16. to bypass; evade: The ship carefully circled the iceberg.
v.i. 17. to move in a circle or circuit.
Idioms: come full circle, to find oneself back where one started.
cir′cler, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
The area of a circle is πr2. The length of the circumference is 2πr.
cir·cle
(sûr′kəl) A closed curve whose points are all on the same plane and at the same distance from a fixed point (the center).
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Circle
Examples: circle of action, 1752; of admirers, 1793; of acquaintances, 1752; of doctrine, 1531; of fallacy, 1646; of foliages, 1713; of glory, 1595; literary circle; circle of onlookers, 1875; of pleasures, 1759; of passion, 1768; of possibilities, 1644; of probability, 1851; of sciences, 1854; of stars, 1611.Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
circle
Past participle: circled
Gerund: circling
| Imperative |
|---|
| circle |
| circle |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
circle
A balcony or tier in the auditorium. The dress circle, usually the most expensive seats where spectators used to dress formally, is the first tier.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  circle - ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point; "he calculated the circumference of the circle"circle of curvature, osculating circle - the circle that touches a curve (on the concave side) and whose radius is the radius of curvature circlet - a small circle equator - a circle dividing a sphere or other surface into two usually equal and symmetrical parts arc - a continuous portion of a circle ellipse, oval - a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it; "the sums of the distances from the foci to any point on an ellipse is constant" epicycle - a circle that rolls around (inside or outside) another circle; generates an epicycloid or hypocycloid |
| 2. |  circle - an unofficial association of people or groups; "the smart set goes there"; "they were an angry lot"social group - people sharing some social relation car pool - a small group of car drivers who arrange to take turns driving while the others are passengers clique, coterie, ingroup, inner circle, camp, pack - an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose cohort - a band of warriors (originally a unit of a Roman Legion) confederacy, conspiracy - a group of conspirators banded together to achieve some harmful or illegal purpose Four Hundred - the exclusive social set of a city horsey set, horsy set - a set of people sharing a devotion to horses and horseback riding and horse racing jet set - a set of rich and fashionable people who travel widely for pleasure | |
| 3. | circle - something approximating the shape of a circle; "the chairs were arranged in a circle" | |
| 4. | circle - movement once around a course; "he drove an extra lap just for insurance" locomotion, travel - self-propelled movement pace lap - the first lap of a car race that prepares the cars for a fast start lap of honour, victory lap - a lap by the winning person or team run to celebrate the victory | |
| 5. |  circle - a road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island; "the accident blocked all traffic at the rotary"junction - the place where two or more things come together | |
| 6. | circle - street names for flunitrazepan flunitrazepan, Rohypnol - a depressant and tranquilizer (trade name Rohypnol) often used in the commission of sexual assault; legally available in Europe and Mexico and Colombia | |
| 7. | circle - a curved section or tier of seats in a hall or theater or opera house; usually the first tier above the orchestra; "they had excellent seats in the dress circle" seating, seating area, seating room, seats - an area that includes places where several people can sit; "there is seating for 40 students in this classroom" | |
| 8. | circle - any circular or rotating mechanism; "the machine punched out metal circles" rotating mechanism - a mechanism that rotates | |
| Verb | 1. | circle - travel around something; "circle the globe" go, locomote, move, travel - change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically; "How fast does your new car go?"; "We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus"; "The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect"; "The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell"; "news travelled fast" circumambulate, walk around - walk around something circumnavigate, compass - travel around, either by plane or ship; "We compassed the earth" circle around, circle round, revolve around - move around in a circular motion; "The Earth revolves around the Sun" |
| 2. | circle - move in circles go, locomote, move, travel - change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically; "How fast does your new car go?"; "We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus"; "The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect"; "The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell"; "news travelled fast" orb, orbit, revolve - move in an orbit; "The moon orbits around the Earth"; "The planets are orbiting the sun"; "electrons orbit the nucleus" troll - circulate, move around loop - fly loops, perform a loop; "the stunt pilot looped his plane" loop - move in loops; "The bicycle looped around the tree" | |
| 3. | circle - form a circle around; "encircle the errors" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
circle
noun
1. ring, round, band, disc, loop, hoop, cordon, perimeter, halo The flag was red with a large white circle. The monument consists of a circle of gigantic stones.
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
circle
noun1. A closed plane curve everywhere equidistant from a fixed point or something shaped like this:
Archaic: orb.
2. A course, process, or journey that ends where it began or repeats itself:
1. To shut in on all sides:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
حَلَقَةٌ مِنَ الأصْدِقاءدَائِرَةدائِرَهشُرْفَةُ المَسْرَح الدّائِرِيَّهشَكْلٌ دائِري
орбита
kruhkružniceobklopovatskupinazakroužkovat
cirkelkredskredselave en cirkelbalkon
cirklorondo
ring
ympyräkaarikiertääpiiriympäröidä
krugkružnica
bekarikázerkélygömbkörkörbejár
lingkaran
hringurklíka, hópurmynda hringsvalirteikna/gera hring
円
원
circuluscoronaorbis
apibrėžtiapskritimasbūrelisskritulys
aplisaprindasaptvertapvilkt aplibalkons
cerc
kružnicakruh
krogkrožitiobkrožiti
cirkelkretsring
วงกลม
hình tròn
circle
[ˈsɜːkl]A. N
1. (gen) → círculo m
to stand in a circle → formar un corro
to come full circle → volver al punto de partida
to go round in circles → dar vueltas sobre lo mismo, no avanzar
it had us running round in circles → nos tuvo dando vueltas sin orden ni concierto
see also vicious
to stand in a circle → formar un corro
to come full circle → volver al punto de partida
to go round in circles → dar vueltas sobre lo mismo, no avanzar
it had us running round in circles → nos tuvo dando vueltas sin orden ni concierto
see also vicious
2. (= set of people) → círculo m, grupo m
John and his circle → Juan y sus amigos, Juan y su peña
in certain circles → en ciertos medios
in business circles → en el mundo de los negocios
the family circle → el círculo familiar
to move in fashionable circles → frecuentar los ambientes que están de moda
an inner circle of ministers → un grupo de ministros que ostentan mayor poder
she moves in wealthy circles → frecuenta la buena sociedad
John and his circle → Juan y sus amigos, Juan y su peña
in certain circles → en ciertos medios
in business circles → en el mundo de los negocios
the family circle → el círculo familiar
to move in fashionable circles → frecuentar los ambientes que están de moda
an inner circle of ministers → un grupo de ministros que ostentan mayor poder
she moves in wealthy circles → frecuenta la buena sociedad
3. (Brit) (Theat) → anfiteatro m
B. VT
1. (= surround) → cercar, rodear; (= move round) → girar alrededor de, dar vueltas alrededor de
the lion circled its prey → el león se movió alrededor de la presa
the cosmonaut circled the earth → el cosmonauta dio la vuelta a la tierra
the aircraft circled the town twice → el avión dio dos vueltas sobre la ciudad
the lion circled its prey → el león se movió alrededor de la presa
the cosmonaut circled the earth → el cosmonauta dio la vuelta a la tierra
the aircraft circled the town twice → el avión dio dos vueltas sobre la ciudad
2. (= draw round) → poner un círculo alrededor de, rodear con un círculo
C. VI → dar vueltas
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
circle
[ˈsɜːrkəl] n
(= shape) → cercle m
(= ring) → cercle m
to go round in circles, to go around in circles (not achieve anything) → tourner en rond
to come full circle, to turn full circle → revenir à son point de départ
to go round in circles, to go around in circles (not achieve anything) → tourner en rond
to come full circle, to turn full circle → revenir à son point de départ
(= group) [people, friends] → cercle m
(in cinema, theatre) → balcon m
vi [aircraft, bird, pilot] → faire des cercles, décrire des cercles
vt
(= fly round) [bird, plane] (once) → faire un cercle au-dessus de, décrire un cercle au-dessus de; (more than once) → faire des cercles au-dessus de, décrire des cercles au-dessus de
(= move round) [+ person, animal] → tourner autour de
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
circle
n
→ Kreis m; to stand in a circle → im Kreis stehen; to go round in ever decreasing circles (lit) → Spiralen drehen; (fig) → sich unablässig im Kreis drehen; to have come or turned full circle (lit) → sich ganz herumgedreht haben, eine Volldrehung gemacht haben; (fig) → wieder da sein, wo man angefangen hat; we’re just going round in circles (fig) → wir bewegen uns nur im Kreise; to come full circle (fig) → zum Ausgangspunkt zurückkehren; things have come full circle → der Kreis hat sich geschlossen; when the seasons have come full circle → wenn sich der Kreis der Jahreszeiten schließt
(of hills etc) → Ring m, → Kette f; (round the eyes) → Ring m (→ round unter +dat); (in gymnastics) → Welle f; a Celtic stone circle → ein keltischer Steinkreis
(= group of persons) → Kreis m, → Zirkel m (geh); a close circle of friends → ein enger Freundeskreis; in political circles → in politischen Kreisen; the family circle → der engste Familienkreis; the whole family circle → die ganze Familie; he’s moving in different circles now → er verkehrt jetzt in anderen Kreisen
vt
(= surround) → umgeben
vi (= fly in a circle) → kreisen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
circle
[ˈsɜːkl]1. n (gen) → cerchio; (of friends) → circolo; (in theatre, cinema) → galleria
great/small circle (Geom) → cerchio massimo/minore
to stand in a circle → mettersi in cerchio
she moves in wealthy circles → frequenta l'alta società
the family circle → la cerchia familiare
to come full circle (fig) → ritornare al punto di partenza
to go round in circles (fam) → girare sempre attorno allo stesso punto
great/small circle (Geom) → cerchio massimo/minore
to stand in a circle → mettersi in cerchio
she moves in wealthy circles → frequenta l'alta società
the family circle → la cerchia familiare
to come full circle (fig) → ritornare al punto di partenza
to go round in circles (fam) → girare sempre attorno allo stesso punto
2. vt (surround) → accerchiare, circondare; (move round) → girare attorno or intorno a; (draw round) → segnare con un cerchio, cerchiare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
circle
(ˈsəːkl) noun1. a figure (O) bounded by one line, every point on which is equally distant from the centre.
2. something in the form of a circle. She was surrounded by a circle of admirers.
3. a group of people. a circle of close friends; wealthy circles.
4. a balcony in a theatre etc. We sat in the circle at the opera.
verb1. to move in a circle round something. The chickens circled round the farmer who was bringing their food.
2. to draw a circle round. Please circle the word you think is wrong.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
circle
→ دَائِرَة kruh cirkel Kreis κύκλος círculo ympyrä cercle krug cerchio 円 원 cirkel sirkel koło círculo круг cirkel วงกลม daire hình tròn 圆形Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
cir·cle
n. círculo, circunferencia.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
circle
n círculo; dark circles under one’s eyes ojeras; vicious — círculo viciosoEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.