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circle

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Circle

English

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Etymology

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Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-der.
Ancient Greek κίρκος (kírkos)bor.
Latin circus
Proto-Indo-European *-lós
Proto-Indo-European *-elós
Proto-Italic *-elos
Latin -ulus
Latin circulus
Old French cerclebor.
Middle English circle
English circle

    From Middle English circle, cercle, from Old French cercle and Latin circulus, diminutive of Latin circus (“circle, circus”), from Ancient Greek κίρκος (kírkos, “circle, ring”), related to Old English hring (“ring”). Compare also Old English ċircul (“circle, zodiac”), which came from the same Latin source. By surface analysis, Latin circ(us) +‎ -(u)le.

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    A (geometrical) circle
    A group of people forming a circle

    circle (plural circles)

    2. (geometry) 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).
      Hypernyms: conic section, shape
      Coordinate terms: (basic shapes) oval, triangle, square, rectangle; ball (3D), cube (3D); (fellow conic sections) ellipse, parabola, hyperbola
      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).
    3. (colloquial) 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.
      Synonyms: disc, (in mathematical and general use) disk, (not in mathematical use; UK & Commonwealth only) round
      Coordinate terms: (basic shapes) oval, triangle, square, rectangle; ball (3D), cube (3D)
      Near-synonyms: coil, ring, loop
    4. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures.
      Children, please join hands and form a circle.
      1. Any thin three-dimensional equivalent of the geometric figures.
        Cut a circle out of that sheet of metal.
      2. A curve that more or less forms part or all of a circle.
        The crank moves in a circle.
    5. A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest.
      Synonyms: bunch, gang, group
      inner circle
      circle of friends
      literary circle
      1. (Japanese fiction) Synonym of doujin circle.
    6. The orbit of an astronomical body.
    7. (cricket) 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.
    8. (Wicca) A ritual circle that is cast three times deosil and closes three times widdershins either in the air with a wand or literally with stones or other items used for worship.
    9. (South Africa, Philippines, India, Dundee) A traffic circle or roundabout.
      • 2011, Charles E. Webb, Downfall and Freedom, page 120:
        He arrived at the lakefront and drove around the circle where the amusement park and beach used to be when he was a kid […]
    10. (obsolete) Compass; circuit; enclosure.
    11. (astronomy) 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.
    12. A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.
    14. (logic) A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.
      • 1661, Joseph Glanvill, chapter XVIII, in The Vanity of Dogmatizing: Or Confidence in Opinions. […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […], →OCLC, page 171:
        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.
    15. Indirect form of words; circumlocution.
    16. A territorial division or district.
      The ten Circles of the Holy Roman Empire were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet.
    17. (in the plural) A bagginess of the skin below the eyes from lack of sleep.
      After working all night, she had circles under her eyes.
    18. (University of Warwick slang) An event at which circling takes place.

    Derived terms

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    Descendants

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    • Pitcairn-Norfolk: sirkil

    Translations

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    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
    Translations to be checked

    Verb

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    circle (third-person singular simple present circles, present participle circling, simple past and past participle circled)

    1. (transitive) To travel around along a curved path.
      The wolves circled the herd of deer.
    2. (transitive) To surround.
      A high fence circles the enclosure.
    3. (transitive) To place or mark a circle around.
      Circle the jobs that you are interested in applying for.
    4. (intransitive) To travel in circles.
      Synonym: gyrate
      Vultures circled overhead.
    5. (intransitive, paganism) To take part in a magic circle.
      I circled with that group for three years.
    6. (University of Warwick slang) To participate in a game of circling.

    Derived terms

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    Translations

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    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
    Translations to be checked

    Anagrams

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