Pronunciations (4)
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/ˈsɜɹkəl/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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/ˈsɜːkəl/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/ˈsɪɹkəl/
Pronunciation notes
- Scotland
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ˈsɜɹkəl
Noun
A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center).
- Broader terms
- Examples
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The set of all points (x, y) such that (x − 1)² + y² = r² is a circle of radius r around the point (1, 0).
A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center). A two-dimensional geometric figure, a disk, consisting of the set of all those points of a plane at a distance less than or equal to a fixed distance (radius) from a given point.
Usage- Colloquial
- Examples
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Near-synonyms: coil, ring, loop
A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center). The orbit of an astronomical body.
A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center). A circle of latitude.
- Synonyms
- Examples
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the 49th circle
Antarctic Circle, Arctic Circle
A state of moving as to follow a circle; a route that forms a circle.
- Examples
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The troops spent ten minutes marching in circle.
The children ran circles around the tree.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures.
- Examples
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Children, please join hands and form a circle.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. Any thin three-dimensional equivalent of the geometric figures.
- Examples
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Cut a circle out of that sheet of metal.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A curve that more or less forms part or all of a circle.
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The crank moves in a circle.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A line comprising two semicircles of 30 yards radius centred on the wickets joined by straight lines parallel to the pitch used to enforce field restrictions in a one-day match.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A magic circle.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A magic circle. A ritual circle that is cast three times deosil and closes three times widdershins either in the a3ir with a wand or literally with stones or other items used for worship.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A traffic circle or roundabout.
Usage- Dundee
- India
- Philippines
- South-Africa
- Synonyms
- Examples
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He arrived at the lakefront and drove around the circle where the amusement park and beach used to be when he was a kid[…]
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A headband or diadem.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A road with a curve in it or that ends in a circle, e.g., a cul-de-sac.
- Examples
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I live on Grover Circle.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A curved level of a balcony of seats in a theater.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. An instrument of observation, whose graduated limb consists of an entire circle. When fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a mural circle; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y's, in the plane of the meridian, a meridian or transit circle; when involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, a reflecting circle; and when that of repeating an angle several times continuously along the graduated limb, a repeating circle.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A campfire circle.
Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A circle dance.
A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest.
- Examples
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I need an in to start hanging out with that circle.
literary circle
More examples (4)
As his name gradually became known, the circle of his acquaintance widened.
At half-past nine on this Saturday evening, the parlour of the Salutation Inn, High Holborn, contained most of its customary visitors.[…]In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.
“I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle, brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera, the gorged dowagers,[…], the jewelled animals whose moral code is the code of the barnyard—!"
The Rabbit could not claim to be a model of anything, for he didn’t know that real rabbits existed; he thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself, and he understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles.
A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest. The people who associate with and follow someone; one's inner circle.
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I don't trust anyone in his circle.
A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest. Synonym of doujin circle.
Usage- Japanese
A real or figurative cycle.
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the circle of the wheel
We've come full circle.
More examples (3)
We've been talking in circles.
circle of life
Has he given the lie, / In circle, or oblique, or semicircle.
A real or figurative cycle. A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.
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Thus in a circle runs the peasant's pain.
A real or figurative cycle. A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
That heavy Bodies deſcend by gravity, is no better an account then we might expect from a Ruſtick: and again; that Gravity is a quality whereby an heavy body deſcends, is an impertinent Circle, and teacheth nothing.
A territorial division or district.
- Examples
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the circles of Hell
The ten Circles of the Holy Roman Empire were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet.
A territorial division or district. An area near a concert set aside for aggressive moshing.
- Synonyms
A territorial division or district. An area of impact or possibility.
Usage- broadly
- Figurative
- Examples
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within the circle of probability
These are the duties within the morning shift's circle of responsibility.
A territorial division or district. Compass; circuit; enclosure.
Usage- Obsolete
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in the circle of this forest
A bagginess of the skin below the eyes from lack of sleep.
Usage- in-plural
- Examples
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After working all night, she had circles under her eyes.
An event at which circling takes place.
Verb
To travel around along a curved path; to orbit.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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The wolves circled the herd of deer.
Other planets circle other suns.
To travel around along a curved path; to orbit. To surround; to encompass within a circle.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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A high fence circles the enclosure.
The lightbulb circled the patio in light.
More examples (2)
Their heads are circled with a short turban.
So he lies, circled with evil.
To place in a circle; to make a circle.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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We circled stones around him.
To place in a circle; to make a circle. To place or mark a circle around.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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Circle the jobs that you are interested in applying for.
To place in a circle; to make a circle. To smoke cannabis in a circle, passing the cannabis around from person to person.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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We circled a joint that afternoon.
To place in a circle; to make a circle. To take part in a magic circle.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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I circled with that group for three years.
To place in a circle; to make a circle. To add someone to a circle on the social media site Google+.
Usage- Obsolete
- Transitive
To travel in circles.
Usage- Intransitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
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Vultures circled overhead.
To travel in circles. To move in a circle around a target in preparation for an attack.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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The shark circled the diver for several minutes.
To travel in circles. To circulate.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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The rumor circled through the crowd.
To travel in circles. to consider or negotiate an agreement.
Usage- Figurative
- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
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A high-profile actor is circling the next Spielberg movie.
To participate in a game of circling.
Noun
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
- Examples
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he calculated the circumference of the circle
an unofficial association of people or groups
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the smart set goes there
they were an angry lot
something approximating the shape of a circle
- Examples
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the chairs were arranged in a circle
movement once around a course
- Broader terms
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he drove an extra lap just for insurance
a road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
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the accident blocked all traffic at the rotary
street names for flunitrazepam
- Broader terms
a curved section or tier of seats in a hall or theater or opera house; usually the first tier above the orchestra
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
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they had excellent seats in the dress circle
any circular or rotating mechanism
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- Broader terms
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the machine punched out metal circles
Verb
travel around something
- Examples
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circle the globe
move in a circular path above (someone or something)
- Examples
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the plane circled, looking for a landing spot
form or draw a circle around
- Synonyms
- Examples
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encircle the errors