circle

[[t]sɜ͟ː(r)k(ə)l[/t]]

♦♦

circles, circling, circled

1) N-COUNT A circle is a shape consisting of a curved line completely surrounding an area. Every part of the line is the same distance from the centre of the area.

The flag was red, with a large white circle in the center...

I wrote down the number 46 and drew a circle around it.

Syn:

ring

2) N-COUNT: usu N of n A circle of something is a round flat piece or area of it.

Cut out 4 circles of pastry.

...a circle of yellow light.

Syn:

ring

3) N-COUNT: oft N of n A circle of objects or people is a group of them arranged in the shape of a circle.

The monument consists of a circle of gigantic stones...

We stood in a circle holding hands.

Syn:

ring

4) VERB If something circles an object or place, or circles around it, it forms a circle around it.

[V n] This is the ring road that circles the city.

[V around/round n] ...the long curving driveway that circled around the vast clipped lawn.

Syn:

encircle

5) VERB If an aircraft or a bird circles or circles something, it moves round in a circle in the air.

The plane circled, awaiting permission to land...

[V adv/prep] There were two helicopters circling around.

[V n] ...like a hawk circling prey.

6) VERB To circle around someone or something, or to circle them, means to move around them.

[V around/round n] Emily kept circling around her mother...

[V n] The silent wolves would track and circle them.

Syn:

go round

7) VERB If you circle something on a piece of paper, you draw a circle around it.

[V n] Circle the correct answers on the coupon below.

Syn:

ring

8) N-COUNT: with supp You can refer to a group of people as a circle when they meet each other regularly because they are friends or because they belong to the same profession or share the same interests.

He has a small circle of friends...

Alton has made himself fiercely unpopular in certain circles.

9) N-SING: the N In a theatre or cinema, the circle is an area of seats on the upper floor.

10) → See also , dress circle, , vicious circle, virtuous circle

11) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that you have come full circle or have turned full circle, you mean that after a long series of events or changes the same situation that you started with still exists.

We've come full circle and dark-blue jeans are once again the height of style.

12) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that someone is going round in circles or around in circles, you mean that they are not achieving anything because they keep coming back to the same point or problem.

Ant:

progress