Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense circles, present participle circling, past tense, past participle circled
1. countable noun
A circle is a shape consisting of a curved line completely surrounding an area. Every partof the line is the same distance from the centre of the area.
The flag was red, with a large white circle in the centre.
I wrote down the number 46 and drew a circle around it.
Synonyms: ring, round, band, disc More Synonyms of circle
2. countable noun
A circleof something is a round flat piece or area of it.
Cut out 4 circles of pastry. [+ of]
...a circle of yellow light. [+ of]
3. countable noun
A circleof objects or people is a group of them arranged in the shape of a circle.
The monument consists of a circle of gigantic stones. [+ of]
We stood in a circle holding hands.
4. verb
If something circles an object or a place, or circlesaround it, it forms a circle around it.
This is the ring road that circles the city. [VERB noun]
...the long curving driveway that circled around the vast clipped lawn. [V + around/round]
Synonyms: go round, ring, surround, belt More Synonyms of circle
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. [VERB]
There were two helicopters circling around. [VERB adverb/preposition]
...like a hawk circling prey. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: wheel, spiral, revolve, rotate More Synonyms of circle
6. verb
To circlearound someone or something, or to circle them, means to move around them.
Emily kept circling around her mother. [V + around/round]
The silent wolves would track and circle them. [VERB noun]
7. verb
If you circle something on a piece of paper, you draw a circle around it.
Circle the correct answers on the coupon below. [VERB noun]
8. countable noun
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. [+ of]
Alton has made himself fiercely unpopular in certain circles.
Synonyms: group, company, set, school More Synonyms of circle
9. singular noun
In a theatre or cinema, the circle is an area of seats on the upper floor.
10. See also Arctic Circle, dress circle, inner circle, vicious circle, virtuous circle
11.
See to come full circle
12.
See go round in circles/go around in circles
More Synonyms of circle
circle in British English
(ˈsɜːkəl)
noun
1. mathematics
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.
the figure enclosed by such a curve
3. 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.
a parallel of latitude
See also great circle, small circle
10.
the ring of a circus
11.
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 striking circle
13.
a circular argument
vicious circle (sense 2)
14. come full circle
15. go round in circles
verb
16.
to move in a circle (around)
we circled the city by car
17. (transitive)
to enclose in a circle; encircle
Derived forms
circler (ˈcircler)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin circulus a circular figure, from circus ring, circle
circle in American English
(ˈsɜrkəl)
noun
1.
a plane figure bounded by a single curved line, every point of which is equally distant from the point at the center of the figure
2.
the line bounding such a figure; circumference
3.
anything shaped like a circle, as a circular road, a ring, a crown, or a halo
4. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
the orb of a heavenly body
5.
the orbit of a heavenly body
6.
a balcony or tier of seats as in a theater
the dress circle
7.
a complete or recurring series, usually ending as it began; cycle; period
8.
a group of people bound together by common interests; coterie
9. Obsolete
a territorial division, esp. in Germany
10.
range or extent, as of influence or interest; scope
11.
a.
great circle
b.
a parallel of latitude
see also Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle
12.
an astronomical instrument with a part in the form of a calibrated circle
13. Logic
a faulty manner of reasoning in which the conclusion that is to be proved is assumed in a premise
guilty of arguing in a circle
see also vicious circle
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcircled or ˈcircling
14.
to form a circle around; encompass; surround
15.
to move around, as in a circle
verb intransitive
16.
to go around in a circle; revolve
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈcoterie
Idioms:
circle the wagons
come full circle
Derived forms
circler (ˈcircler) (ˈsɜrklər)
noun
Word origin
ME cercle < OFr < L circulus, a circle, dim. of circus: see circus
As fear ripples around their circle no one knows who they can truly trust.
The Sun (2016)
The same cameras showed that a car had been circling the area.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He called the entire squad into the centre circle.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The system is catastrophically failing to end the vicious circle of criminality.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Look for signs of how her inner circle is feeling.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We were circling round waiting for the course to clear and to be interviewed.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The aircraft circled the vessel for an hour before dwindling fuel reserves forced its return to Hawaii.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It feels like it's come full circle.
The Sun (2016)
And therefore I'm delighted to have this group circling us of young people who are working on these issues.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
They arrived at an army checkpoint beside a highway that circles the city.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We must move people beyond merely sitting in rows in pews to sitting in circles in groups.
Christianity Today (2000)
What is the area of his circle divided by the area of mine?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You may see a new depth to some people in your circle this week.
The Sun (2015)
They circle like a bird feeling out for a rising thermal.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We have established a wide circle of friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
For the entire night we walked around in circles.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The vicious circle is a basic pattern.
Low, Nicholas Politics, Planning and the State (1990)
They followed the fault line as it circled the jar all the way round to rejoin itself.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Today we seem to have come full circle.
Dylan Evans PLACEBO: The Belief Effect (2003)
This would lead to circling in the air or being left on runways.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But she soon relaxed her grip to wave happily at the skiers below as they circled.
The Sun (2007)
You end up going round in circles.
The Sun (2013)
It circled the city monitoring mobile phone and computer traffic.
The Sun (2007)
Draw a circle for his eye.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This price based on upper circle tickets, top price stalls also available.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There are four eggs, arranged in a circle with their points inward.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Delays mount up as aircraft circle the skies, vainly waiting for a landing slot.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There, they drew a circle on the floor and continued work.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
On wet days, it rains in the upper circle.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Student drama gave me a focal point, a circle of friends, many of my favourite student memories.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
circle
British English: circle /ˈsɜːkl/ NOUN
A circle is a round shape. Every part of its edge is the same distance from the centre.
...a red flag with a large white circle in the centre.
American English: circle
Arabic: دَائِرَة
Brazilian Portuguese: círculo
Chinese: 圆形
Croatian: krug
Czech: kruh
Danish: cirkel
Dutch: cirkel
European Spanish: círculo circunferencia
Finnish: ympyrä
French: cercle
German: Kreis
Greek: κύκλος
Italian: cerchio
Japanese: 円 丸
Korean: 원
Norwegian: sirkel
Polish: koło
European Portuguese: círculo
Romanian: cerc
Russian: круг
Latin American Spanish: círculo
Swedish: cirkel
Thai: วงกลม
Turkish: daire
Ukrainian: коло
Vietnamese: hình tròn
British English: circle VERB
If something circles an object or a place, or circles around it, it forms a circle around it.
This is the road that circles the city.
American English: circle
Brazilian Portuguese: circular
Chinese: 环绕
European Spanish: rodear
French: contourner
German: umkreisen
Italian: essere intorno a
Japanese: 丸で囲む
Korean: 선회하다
European Portuguese: circular
Latin American Spanish: rodear
All related terms of 'circle'
circle time
a time in which pre-school or primary school children sit in a circle and take turns to speak, usually with possession of a circulated object being the sign of whose turn it is
corn circle
any of various patterns, usually wholly or partly consisting of ring shapes, formed by the unexplained flattening of cereals growing in a field
crop circle
any of various patterns, usually wholly or partly consisting of ring shapes, formed by the unexplained flattening of cereals growing in a field
dip circle
an instrument for measuring dip , consisting of a dip needle with a vertical circular scale of angles
full circle
to the original place, source , or state through a cycle of developments (usually used in the phrase come full circle )
half-circle
one half of a circle
hour circle
a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the celestial poles and a specified point, such as a star
hut circle
a circle of earth or stones representing the site of a prehistoric hut
semi-circle
A semi-circle is one half of a circle , or something having the shape of half a circle.
wide circle
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.
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is an imaginary line drawn around the northern part of the world at approximately 66° North.
dress circle
The dress circle is the lowest of the curved rows of seats upstairs in a theatre.
family circle
members of a family regarded as a closed group
golden circle
the British association of magicians , traditionally forbidden to reveal any of the secrets of their art
great circle
a circular section of a sphere that has a radius equal to that of the sphere
inner circle
An inner circle is a small group of people within a larger group who have a lot of power, influence , or special information.
Magic Circle
the British association of magicians , traditionally forbidden to reveal any of the secrets of their art
Mohr's circle
a graphical construction enabling the stresses in the cross-section of a body to be determined if the principal stresses are known
outer circle
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.
pitch circle
an imaginary circle passing through the teeth of a gearwheel , concentric with the gearwheel, and having a radius that would enable it to be in contact with a similar circle around a mating gearwheel
polar circle
→ Arctic Circle
sewing circle
a group of people who meet regularly to sew
small circle
a circular section of a sphere that does not contain the centre of the sphere
social circle
a group of people who are socially connected
stone circle
a circle of standing stones erected in prehistoric times
upper circle
the seats in a theatre that are situated above the dress circle
charmed circle
If you refer to a group of people as a charmed circle , you mean that they seem to have special power or influence , and do not allow anyone else to join their group.
meridian circle
an instrument used in astronomy for determining the declination and right ascension of stars. It consists of a telescope attached to a graduated circle
parhelic circle
a luminous band at the same altitude as the sun, parallel to the horizon , caused by reflection of the sun's rays by ice crystals in the atmosphere
parquet circle
the seating area of the main floor of a theatre that lies to the rear of the auditorium and underneath the balcony
quality circle
A quality circle is a small group of workers and managers who meet to solve problems and improve the quality of the organization's products or services.
squared circle
a wrestling ring
striking circle
the semicircular area in front of each goal , which an attacking player must have entered before scoring a goal
traffic circle
A traffic circle is a circular structure in the road at a place where several roads meet . You drive round it until you come to the road that you want .
turning circle
the smallest circle in which a vehicle can turn
vertical circle
a great circle on the celestial sphere passing through the zenith and perpendicular to the horizon
vicious circle
A vicious circle is a problem or difficult situation that has the effect of creating new problems which then cause the original problem or situation to occur again.
virtuous circle
If you describe a situation as a virtuous circle , you mean that once one good thing starts happening , other good things happen , which cause the first thing to continue happening.
winner's circle
an area, usually circular , at a racetrack where the winning horse and its jockey , owner , etc. are brought for recognition
Antarctic Circle
the imaginary circle around the earth, parallel to the equator , at latitude 66° 32′ S; it marks the southernmost point at which the sun appears above the level of the horizon at the winter solstice
equinoctial circle
→ celestial equator
restraining circle
any of three circles on the floor of a basketball court used for jump balls: other players must remain outside the circle during a jump ball
sentencing circle
a method of dispensing justice amongst native Canadian peoples involving discussion between offenders, victims , and members of the community
a vicious circle
a situation where one problem has caused other problems which, in turn , have made the original problem even worse
circle the wagons
to unite with the other people in a group in order to protect yourselves and fight whoever is attacking you
come full circle
said to mean that something is now exactly the same as it used to be, although there has been a long period of changes
square the circle
If you say that someone squares the circle , you mean that they bring together two things which are normally thought to be so different that they cannot exist together.
galactic equator
the great circle on the celestial sphere containing the galactic plane
to come full circle turn full circle
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 .
Chinese translation of 'circle'
circle
(ˈsəːkl)
n
(c)圆(圓)圈 (yuánquān) (个(個), gè)
(c)[of friends]圈子 (quānzi)
⇒ He has a small circle of friends.他有一小圈朋友。 (Tā yǒu yī xiǎo quān péngyou.)
(s) (in cinema, theatre) 楼(樓)厅(廳) (lóutīng)
vi
[bird, plane]盘(盤)旋 (pánxuán)
vt
(= move round, surround) 环(環)绕(繞) (huánrào)
1 (noun)
Definition
something formed or arranged in the shape of a circle
The flag was red with a large white circle.The monument consists of a circle of gigantic stones.
Synonyms
ring
a ring of blue smoke
round
small fresh rounds of goat's cheese
band
disc
a revolving disc with replaceable blades
loop
She reached for a loop of garden hose.
hoop
For hand sewing, use an embroidery hoop to keep the fabric taut.
cordon
Police formed a cordon between the two crowds.
perimeter
halo
2 (noun)
Definition
a group of people sharing an interest, activity, or upbringing
a small circle of friends
Synonyms
group
a radical group within the Communist Party
company
He was a notable young actor in a company of rising stars.
set
the popular watering hole for the literary set
school
the Chicago school of economists
club
He was a member of the local youth club.
order
the Benedictine order of monks
class
the relationship between different social classes
society
the historical society
crowd
All the old crowd from my university days were there.
assembly
She waited until quiet settled on the assembly.
fellowship
the National Youth Fellowship
fraternity
the spread of stolen guns among the criminal fraternity
clique
The country is run by a small clique of wealthy families.
coterie
The songs he recorded were written by a small coterie of dedicated writers.
3 (noun)
Definition
a group of people sharing an interest, activity, or upbringing
She moved only in the most exalted circles.
Synonyms
sphere
the sphere of international politics
world
The publishing world had never seen an event quite like this.
area
She was involved in every area of the project.
range
The trees on the mountain within my range of vision had all been felled.
field
They are both experts in their field.
scene (informal)
the local music scene
Sport just isn't my scene.
orbit
Cora dazzled all who came within her orbit.
realm
the realm of politics
milieu
They stayed within their own social milieu.
4 (noun)
safe within the circle of his arms
Synonyms
enclosure
bounds
compass
circumference
a gold watch-face with diamond chips around its circumference
1 (verb)
Definition
to enclose in a circle
This is the ring road that circles the city.
Synonyms
go round
ring
The area is ringed by troops.
surround
The church was surrounded by a rusted wrought-iron fence.
belt
curve
enclose
The land was enclosed by an eight-foot wire fence.
encompass
Egypt is encompassed by the Mediterranean, Sudan, the Red Sea and Libya.
compass
The Christians fled when they saw the city being compassed with armies.
envelop
the thick black cloud of smoke that enveloped the area
encircle
A forty-foot-high concrete wall encircles the jail.
circumscribe
hem in
gird
a proposal to gird the river with a series of small hydroelectric dams
circumnavigate
enwreath
2 (verb)
Definition
to move in a circle (around)
There were two helicopters circling around.
Synonyms
wheel
I wheeled around to face her.
spiral
revolve
The entire circle revolved slowly.
rotate
The earth rotates round the sun.
whirl
Hearing a sound behind her, she whirled round.
pivot
The boat pivoted on its central axis.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of area
Definition
a subject field
She was involved in every area of the project.
Synonyms
realm,
part,
department (informal),
field,
province,
arena,
sphere,
domain
in the sense of assembly
Definition
a number of people gathered together for a meeting
She waited until quiet settled on the assembly.
Synonyms
gathering,
group,
meeting,
body,
council,
conference,
crowd,
congress,
audience,
collection,
mass,
diet,
rally,
convention,
flock,
company,
house,
congregation,
accumulation,
multitude,
throng,
synod,
hui (New Zealand),
assemblage,
conclave,
aggregation,
convocation (formal),
jamaat,
runanga (New Zealand)
in the sense of circumference
Definition
the distance round this
a gold watch-face with diamond chips around its circumference