cir·cle
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Definition of circle
(Entry 1 of 2)
b
: a closed plane (see plane entry 6 sense 2b) curve every point of which is equidistant (see equidistant sense 1) from a fixed point within the curve
c
: the plane surface bounded by such a curve
2
archaic
: the orbit of a celestial body
3
: something in the form of a circle or section of a circle: such as
a
: diadem
b
: an instrument of astronomical observation the graduated (see graduated sense 2a) limb of which consists of an entire circle
c
: a balcony or tier of seats in a theater
d
: a circle formed on the surface of a sphere by the intersection of a plane that passes through it
circle of latitude
e
: rotary sense 2
Traffic slowed down around the circle.
4
: an area of action or influence : realm
within the circle of probability
b
: fallacious reasoning in which something to be demonstrated is covertly assumed
6
: a group of persons sharing a common interest or revolving about a common center
the sewing circle of her church family circle the gossip of court circles political, social, and literary circles
7
: a territorial or administrative division or district
The province is divided into nine circles.
8
: a curving side street
lived on Kimberly Circle
9
: a circular course or path
The children ran in circles around the tree. The conversation kept going in circles, and nothing got accomplished.
circle
verb
circled;
circling\ ˈsər-k(ə-)liŋ
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Definition of circle (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to enclose in or as if in a circle
The teacher circled the misspelled words.
2
: to move or revolve around
satellites circling the earth
1a
: to move in or as if in a circle
The airplane circled around over the airport.
b
: circulate
thy name shall circle round the gaping throng— Lord Byron
c
: to circle around before making an attack
sharks circling in the water
2
: to describe or extend in a circle
the lighthouse sent out its slow steady circling beam— R. O. Bowen
Illustration of circle
Noun
circle 1b: AB diameter; C center; CD, CA, CB radii; EKF arc on chord EF; EFKL (area) segment on chord EF; ACD (area) sector; GH secant; TPM tangent at point P; EKFBPDA circumference
In the meaning defined above
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Other Words from circle
Verb
circler
\ ˈsər-k(ə-)lər
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noun
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noun
Synonyms for circle
Synonyms: Noun
Synonyms: Verb
compass, embrace, encircle, enclose (also inclose), encompass, environ, gird, girdle, ring, surround, wreathe
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Examples of circle in a Sentence
Noun
She drew a circle around the correct answer. We formed a circle around the campfire. He looked old and tired, with dark circles under his eyes. She has a large circle of friends. She is well-known in banking circles.Verb
He circled his arms around his wife's waist. His arms circled around his wife's waist. She circled the correct answer. The pilot circled the airport before landing. The halfback circled to the left.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The drumming circles, though, aim to impact Chicago residents in a more casual way in communities damaged by gun violence and its lingering trauma. — Annie Sweeney, chicagotribune.com, "In his beloved Englewood, an internationally known jazz musician hosts drum circles during the violent summer months," 6 Aug. 2019 Princess Vladimir was attracting a lot of attention in elite social circles in Paris. — National Geographic, "This 'pretender princess' tried to steal Catherine the Great's throne," 6 Aug. 2019 Think of these relationships as concentric circles. — Amy Chillag, CNN, "It's Friendship Day. Here's how to be a better friend," 4 Aug. 2019 Standing in the on-deck circle, Ozuna saw a bunch of fastballs. — John Shea, SFChronicle.com, "A’s beat Cardinals behind newcomers Tanner Roark, Dustin Garneau," 4 Aug. 2019 But don't travel there expecting to see the standing stone circle. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "How to Visit Outlander's Craigh Na Dun Stones in Real Life," 4 Aug. 2019 In fact, the market has spent the last decade in something of an unvirtuous circle. — Brian Barrett, WIRED, "The Radical Transformation of the Textbook," 4 Aug. 2019 And in many preschools, teachers and parents might be relieved when the child who was running around or hitting his classmates is no longer at circle time. — Erin Einhorn, NBC News, "Despite laws cracking down on preschool expulsions, thousands of young children a year are put out of school.," 3 Aug. 2019 Earlier this season, a home plate umpire had the temerity to throw a bat to the on-deck circle, denying Finn his greatest pleasure in life. — Gary Peterson, The Mercury News, "Dog days are a good thing for A’s Triple-A team and its four-legged bat boy," 2 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Fans circled the UMass game as a potential second win, but the Minutemen had other ideas, scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns to steal a victory. — Alex Putterman, courant.com, "Reviewing UConn’s 2018 season: Plenty the Huskies would like to forget," 21 Aug. 2019 By early Wednesday morning, the Hoover Police Department and Hoover City School District officials had circled the wagons. — Roy S. Johnson | Rjohnson@al.com, al, "Johnson: For African-Americans, racial threat at Hoover school stirs many emotions," 16 Aug. 2019 Don’t circle it yet, but the Nets make their only visit to San Francisco on March 12. — Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, "Kurtenbach: Six takeaways from the Warriors’ schedule release," 12 Aug. 2019 In this illustration, several dust rings circle the sun. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, "This sideways galaxy looks just like a lightsaber," 9 Aug. 2019 Water infrequently, slowly, and deeply – a soaker hose circled around the dripline area, for example, left running for a couple of hours, once ev