Round is an adverb and preposition that has the same meanings as 'around'. Round is often used with verbs of movement, such as 'walk' and 'drive', and also in phrasalverbs such as 'get round' and 'hand round'. Round is commoner in British English than American English, and it is slightly more informal.
1. preposition
To be positioned round a place or object means to surround it or be on all sides of it. To move round a place means to go along its edge, back to the point where you started.
They were sitting round the kitchen table.
The nightdress has handmade lace round the armholes and neckline.
All round us was desert.
I shivered and pulled my scarf more tightly round my neck.
He tramped hurriedly round the lake towards the garden.
...cycling round and round the park.
Synonyms: around, about, encircling, near More Synonyms of round
Round is also an adverb.
Visibility was good all round.
The goldfish swam round and round in their tiny bowls.
2. preposition
If you move round a corner or obstacle, you move to the other side of it. If you look round a corner or obstacle, you look to see what is on the other side.
Suddenly a car came round a corner on the opposite side.
Stay on the left-hand pavement to follow a road downhill round a curve.
One of his men tapped and looked round the door.
3. preposition
You use round to say that something happens in or relates to different parts of a place, or is near a place.
He happens to own half the land round here.
I think he has earned the respect of leaders all round the world.
She's been on at me for weeks to show her round the stables.
They need some way of getting round the country.
Synonyms: throughout, all over, everywhere in, here and there in More Synonyms of round
Round is also an adverb.
Shirley found someone to show them round.
So you're going to have a look round?
4. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If a wheel or object spins round, it turns on its axis.
Holes can be worn remarkably quickly by a wheel going round at 60mph.
Stars appeared everywhere, spinning round and round, faster and faster.
5. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you turn round, you turn so that you are facing or going in the opposite direction.
She paused, but did not turn round.
The end result was that the ship had to turn round, and go back home.
The wind veered round to the east.
Tricia looked round in surprise.
6. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you move things round, you move them so they are in different places.
He will be glad to refurnish where possible, change things round and redecorate.
I've already moved things round a bit to make it easier for him.
7. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you hand or pass something round, it is passed from person to person in a group.
John handed round the plate of sandwiches.
Coffee was being passed round.
Round is also a preposition.
They started handing the microphone out round the girls at the front.
The word is passed round the industry if you think there's a troublesome driver.
8. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you go round to someone's house, you visit them.
I think we should go round and tell Kevin to turn his music down.
He came round with a bottle of champagne.
Round is also a preposition in non-standard English.
I went round my friend's house.
9. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
You use round in informal expressions such as sit round or hang round when you are saying that someone is spending time in a place and is not doing anything very important.
[British]
As we sat round chatting, I began to think I'd made a mistake.
I was running round all hyped up.
Round is also a preposition.
She would spend the day hanging round street corners.
Leonard pottered round the greenhouse, tying up canes for the tomatoes.
10. preposition
If something is built or based round a particular idea, that idea is the basis for it.
That was for a design built round an existing American engine.
The core of the festival's programme centres round performances of new and 20th centurywork.
11. preposition
If you get round a problem or difficulty, you find a way of dealing with it.
Don't just immediately give up but think about ways round a problem.
There are ways of getting round most things!
12. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
If you win someone round, or if they come round, they change their mind about something and start agreeing with you.
He did his best to talk me round, but I wouldn't speak to him.
The Chandler twins were coming round to the same opinion.
13. adverb [noun ADVERB, ADVERB after verb]
You use round in expressions such as this time round or to come round when you are describing something that has happened before or things that happenregularly.
At least two directors were expected to vote to increase rates this time round .
Of course, it isn't the same first time round.
We were very keen when the 1954 Rally came round.
14. preposition
You can use round to give the measurement of the outside of something that is shaped like a circleor a cylinder.
I'm about two inches larger round the waist.
...forty-eight inches round the hips.
Round is also an adverb.
It's six feet high and five feet round.
15. adverb
You use round in front of times or amounts to indicate that they are approximate.
[vagueness]
I go to bed round 11:00 at night.
16.
See round about
17.
See all round
18.
See go round and round
19.
See all year round
20. round the corner
21. the other way round
More Synonyms of round
English Easy Learning GrammarPrepositionsA preposition is one of a small but very common group of words that relate differentitems to each other. Most English prepositions have a number of meanings ... Read more
round noun uses
(raʊnd)
Word forms: plural rounds
1. countable noun
A roundof events is a series of related events, especially one which comes after or before a similar series of events.
This is the latest round of job cuts aimed at making the company more competitive. [+ of]
There will be more frequent rounds of inspection by our security personnel.
Synonyms: series, session, cycle, sequence More Synonyms of round
2. countable noun [usually adjective NOUN]
In sport, a round is a series of games in a competition. The winners of these games go on to play in the next round, and so on, until only one playeror team is left.
...in the third round of the Pilkington Cup. [+ of]
After round three, two Americans share the lead.
Synonyms: stage, turn, level, period More Synonyms of round
3. countable noun [usually adjective NOUN]
In a boxing or wrestling match, a round is one of the periods during which the boxers or wrestlers fight.
He was declared the victor in the 11th round.
Gibson's left eye is completely closed before the end of round one.
4. countable noun
A roundof golf is one game, usually including 18 holes.
...two rounds of golf. [+ of]
Ronan Rafferty shot six birdies in a round of 67.
5. countable noun [oft NOUNof noun]
A round is a circular shape.
...small fresh rounds of goats' cheese.
A cucumber was sliced into rounds.
Synonyms: sphere, ball, band, ring More Synonyms of round
6. countable noun [usually with supplement, oft NOUNof noun]
A roundof bread is a slice of bread. A round of sandwiches is a sandwich made from two slices of bread.
[British]
...four rounds of toast.
7. countable noun
If you do your rounds or your round, you make a series of visits to different places or people, for example as part ofyour job.
[mainly British]
The consultants still did their morning rounds.
He got out of the car, and carried on with his paper round.
8. countable noun
If you buy a roundof drinks, you buy a drink for each member of the group of people that you are with.
They sat on the clubhouse terrace, downing a round of drinks. [+ of]
I think it's my round.
9. countable noun
A roundof ammunition is the bullet or bullets released when a gun is fired.
...firing 1650 rounds of ammunition during a period of ten minutes. [+ of]
...the use of live rounds of ammunition.
Synonyms: bullet, shot, shell, discharge More Synonyms of round
10. countable noun
If there is a roundof applause, everyone claps their hands to welcome someone or to show that they have enjoyed something.
Sue got a sympathetic round of applause. [+ of]
11. countable noun
In music, a round is a simple song sung by several people in which each person sings a different partof the song at the same time.
12.
See go the rounds
13.
See make the rounds
round adjective uses
(raʊnd)
Word forms: comparative rounder, superlative roundest
1. adjective
Something that is round is shaped like a circle or ball.
She had small feet and hands and a flat, round face.
...the round church known as The New Temple.
...large round loaves dusted with flour.
Synonyms: spherical, rounded, bowed, curved More Synonyms of round
2. graded adjective
If someone has round eyes, their eyes are open wide, for example because they are surprised, excited, or afraid.
The boy sucked his thumb and stared at me with huge, round eyes.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A round number is a multiple of 10, 100, 1000, and so on. Round numbers are used instead of precise ones to give the general idea of a quantity or proportion.
A million pounds seemed a suitably round number.
In round figures, the team pool has now reached £78,000.
round verb uses
(raʊnd)
Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense rounds, present participle rounding, past tense, past participle rounded
1. verb
If you round a place or obstacle, you move in a curve past the edge or corner of it.
The house disappeared from sight as we rounded a corner. [VERB noun]
After rounding Cape Finisterre the boats ride the north-easterly trades. [VERB noun]
2. verb
If you round an amount up or down, or if you round it off, you change it to the nearest whole number or nearest multiple of 10, 100, 1000,and so on.
We needed to learn how to round up and round down numbers. [VERB noun with adverb]
The fraction was then multiplied by 100 and rounded to the nearest half or wholenumber. [beVERB-ed + to]
I'll round it off to about £30. [V n adv + to]
3. See also rounded
Phrasal verbs:
See round off
See round on
See round up
round in British English
(raʊnd)
adjective
1.
having a flat circular shape, as a disc or hoop
2.
having the shape of a sphere or ball
3.
curved; not angular
4.
involving or using circular motion
5. (prenominal)
complete; entire
a round dozen
6. mathematics
a.
forming or expressed by an integer or whole number, with no fraction
b.
expressed to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand
in round figures
7.
(of a sum of money) considerable; ample
8.
fully depicted or developed, as a character in a book
9.
full and plump
round cheeks
10.
(of sound) full and sonorous
11.
(of pace) brisk; lively
12. (prenominal)
(of speech) candid; straightforward; unmodified
a round assertion
13.
(of a vowel) pronounced with rounded lips
noun
14.
a round shape or object
15. in the round
16.
a session, as of a negotiation
a round of talks
17.
a series, cycle, or sequence
a giddy round of parties
18. the daily round
19.
a stage of a competition
he was eliminated in the first round
20. (often plural)
a series of calls, esp in a set order
a doctor's rounds
a milkman's round
21.
a playing of all the holes on a golf course
22.
a single turn of play by each player, as in a card game
23.
one of a number of periods constituting a boxing, wrestling, or other match, each usually lasting three minutes
24. archery
a specified number of arrows shot from a specified distance
25.
a single discharge by a number of guns or a single gun
26.
a bullet, blank cartridge, or other charge of ammunition
27.
a number of drinks bought at one time for a group of people
28.
a single slice of bread or toast or two slices making a single serving of sandwiches
29.
a general outburst of applause, cheering, etc
30.
movement in a circle or around an axis
31. music
a part song in which the voices follow each other at equal intervals at the same pitch
32.
a sequence of bells rung in order of treble to tenor
Compare change (sense 29)
33.
a dance in which the dancers move in a circle
34.
a cut of beef from the thigh between the rump and the shank
35. go the rounds
preposition
36.
surrounding, encircling, or enclosing
a band round her head
37.
on all or most sides of
to look round one
38.
on or outside the circumference or perimeter of
the stands round the racecourse
39.
situated at various points in
a lot of shelves round the house
40.
from place to place in
driving round Ireland
41.
somewhere in or near
to stay round the house
42.
making a circuit or partial circuit about
the ring road round the town
43.
reached by making a partial circuit about something
the shop round the corner
44.
revolving round a centre or axis
the earth's motion round its axis
45.
so as to have a basis in
the story is built round a good plot
adverb
46.
on all or most sides
the garden is fenced all round
the crowd gathered round
47.
on or outside the circumference or perimeter
the racing track is two miles round
48.
in all directions from a point of reference
we own the land for ten miles round
49.
to all members of a group
pass the food round
50.
in rotation or revolution
the wheels turn round
51.
by a circuitous route
the road to the farm goes round by the pond
52.
to a specific place
she came round to see me
53. all year round
verb
54.
to make or become round
55. (transitive)
to encircle; surround
56.
to move or cause to move with circular motion
to round a bend
57. (transitive)
a.
to pronounce (a speech sound) with rounded lips
b.
to purse (the lips)
▶ USAGE See note at around
Derived forms
roundness (ˈroundness)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French ront, from Latin rotundus round, from rota a wheel
round in American English1
(raʊnd)
adjective
1.
shaped like a ball; spherical; globular
2.
a.
shaped like a circle, ring, or disk; circular
b.
shaped like a cylinder (in having a circular cross section); cylindrical
3.
curved in shape like part of a sphere or circle
4.
not angular; plump or stout
5.
involving, or done in or with, a circular motion
a round dance
6.
a.
not lacking part; full; complete
a round dozen
b.
completed; perfected
7.
completed by progressing through a course which, as if circular, returns to the startingpoint
a round trip
8.
constituting, or expressed by, a whole number, or integer; not fractional
9.
expressed in units divisible by ten, one hundred, etc., rather than exactly
500 is a round number for 498, 503, etc.
10.
large in amount, size, etc.; considerable
a round sum
11.
mellow and full in tone; sonorous
rich round tones
12.
brisk; vigorous and rapid
a round pace
13.
outspoken; plain and blunt; straightforward
14. Phonetics
articulated with the lips forming a circular or oval opening; rounded
a round vowel
noun
15.
something round or rounded; thing or part that is spherical, globular, circular,curved, annular, or cylindrical
16.
a.
a rung of a ladder
b.
a crossbar connecting the legs of a chair
17.
the rounded part of the thigh of a beef animal, between the rump and the leg
18.
movement in a circular course or about an axis
19.
round dance
20.
a series or succession of actions, events, etc. that is completed at, or as if at, the point where it began
a round of parties
21.
the complete extent; whole range
the round of human beliefs
22. [often pl.]
a regular, customary course or circuit, as by a watchman of a station, a doctor of hospital patients, a drinker of a number of bars, etc.
23.
a single serving, as of drinks, to each of a group
24.
a.
a single shot from each of a number of rifles, artillery pieces, etc. fired together, or a shot from a single gun
see also salvo1
b.
ammunition for a single shot; cartridge, shell, etc.
25.
a single outburst, as of applause, cheering, etc.; salvo
26.
a circular slice, as of bread
27. Archery
a specified number of arrows shot at the target from a specified distance accordingto the rules
28. Games and Sport
a single period or division of action, usually one of a series [a round of poker]
; specif.,
a. Boxing
any of the timed periods of a fight; a round is now generally limited to three minutes,and the interval between rounds to one minute
b. Golf
a number of holes as a unit of competition, esp. eighteen
29. Music
a.
a short song for two or more voices, in which the second starts when the first reachesthe second phrase, etc. and upon concluding each voice begins again, as in a canon
b. [pl.]
the ringing in sequence of a set of bells from the smallest to the largest, in changeringing
verb transitive
30.
to make round
often with off
31.
to deprive of angularity or make plump
usually with out
32.
to express as a round number
usually with off
33.
to complete; finish; perfect
usually with out or off
34.
to make a circuit of; pass around
we rounded the island
35.
to make a turn about
to round a corner
36.
to cause to move in a circular course
37. Rare
to encircle; surround
38. Phonetics
to articulate with the lips forming a circular or oval opening
verb intransitive
39.
to make a complete or partial circuit; move in a curved or circular course
40.
a.
to turn; reverse direction
b.
to attack or oppose suddenly or unexpectedly; turn (on)
41.
to become round or plump
often with out
42.
to develop (into)
the talk rounded into a plan
adverb
43.
around (sense 1) around (sense 3)
44.
for each of several; to include all in a group
not enough to go round
45.
by a circuitous course; in a roundabout way
46.
with a rotating or revolving movement
preposition
47.
around
Idioms:
go the round
in the round
out of round
round about
round in
round to
round up
SYNONYMY NOTE: round1, the most inclusive of these words, applies to anything shaped like a circle, sphere,or cylinder, or like a part of any of these; , spherical applies to a round body or mass having the surface equally distant from the centerat all points; , globular is used of things that are ball-shaped but not necessarily perfect spheres; , circular is applied to round lines, or round flat surfaces, in the shape of a ring or disk,and it may or may not imply correspondence in form with a perfect circle; , annular applies to ringlike forms or structures, as the markings in a cross section of atree see also bring, come
Derived forms
roundness (ˈroundness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OFr roont < L rotundus: see rotund
round in American English2
(raʊnd)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
Obsolete
to whisper (to)
Word origin
ME rounen (+ unhistoric -d) < OE runian, to whisper: see rune
More idioms containing
round
round the clock
run round in circles
go round in circles
round the bend
drive someone round the bend
round the houses
a square peg in a round hole
run rings round someone
be unable to get your tongue round something
round the twist
Examples of 'round' in a sentence
round
It looked like they had rounded up people off the street to do the stewarding.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Some herds are housed all year round.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The glass moves slowly round and round.
The Sun (2016)
The house and grounds are open all year round.
The Sun (2016)
One round it will take me to knock him out.
The Sun (2016)
Shape into a round and place on a greased baking tray.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Now go round to her house and jump up and down on her for a bit.
The Sun (2017)
With our son's birth we have committed ourselves to another round here on earth.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The pair had decided to explore the north of Tenerife and were rounding a bend when they collided with the car.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
People coming round for dinner typically end up finishing off preparing the meal.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There are always shoes lying all round the house.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We are open all year round and there is always something going on.
The Sun (2011)
The sofa had been wheeled round with its back to the light.
Susan Coolidge What Katy Did (1872)
This time round there is one particular delight in the list.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Shape into four rounds and dust with flour.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The twist is that the handle bends round underneath to form a coaster to collect any drips.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Yet it is what makes the world go round.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is what those little rabbits saw round that corner!
Beatrix Potter The Tales of Beatrix Potter (1930)
They had moved round the hill for better land and better access.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The dollar has had a huge turn round recently.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Those two famous closing rounds were wholly different in kind.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
An appeal for paint was signalled round the task group.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
The team are third in the championship with only two rounds to go.
The Sun (2008)
They circled round and landed again with the new arrival.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The full round takes about five minutes.
Christianity Today (2000)
Others wearing bikinis collect litter and hold up cards giving the number of each round.
The Sun (2010)
Taxi drivers take people round on tours now.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It won an instant round of applause and played well in the media.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
What about a walk round the block?
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
Why is the Earth moving round the sun?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The town sprang up round a series of chapels built by monks in the 12th century.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I am in a village two miles from the sea, checking out its unusual round church tower.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
round
British English: round /raʊnd/ ADJECTIVE
Something round is in the shape of a ball or a circle.
There was a round table in the middle of the room.
American English: round
Arabic: مُسْتَدير
Brazilian Portuguese: redondo
Chinese: 圆的
Croatian: okrugao
Czech: kulatý
Danish: rund
Dutch: rond
European Spanish: redondo
Finnish: pyöreä
French: rond
German: rund
Greek: στρογγυλός
Italian: rotondo
Japanese: 丸い
Korean: 둥근
Norwegian: rund
Polish: okrągły
European Portuguese: redondo
Romanian: rotund
Russian: круглый
Latin American Spanish: redondo
Swedish: rund
Thai: กลม
Turkish: yuvarlak
Ukrainian: круглий
Vietnamese: tròn
British English: round /raʊnd/ NOUN
series A round of events is a series of similar events, especially one which comes after or before a similar series.
Another round of peace talks will soon begin.
American English: round series
Arabic: دَوْر
Brazilian Portuguese: ronda
Chinese: 回合
Croatian: krug
Czech: kolo hry
Danish: runde cirkelform
Dutch: ronde
European Spanish: círculo redondel
Finnish: ympyrä
French: série
German: Kreis
Greek: κύκλος
Italian: turno
Japanese: 連続 series
Korean: 한 차례
Norwegian: runding
Polish: koło okrąg
European Portuguese: círculo
Romanian: rundă
Russian: круг
Latin American Spanish: ronda serie de sucesos
Swedish: runda omgång
Thai: วงกลม
Turkish: halka çember
Ukrainian: раунд
Vietnamese: vòng
British English: round /raʊnd/ NOUN
circle A round is a circular shape.
...small rounds of goats' cheese.
American English: round circle
Arabic: دَائِرَة
Brazilian Portuguese: redondo
Chinese: 圆
Croatian: serija
Czech: kolo kruh
Danish: runde serie
Dutch: ronde
European Spanish: ronda
Finnish: kierros
French: rond
German: Runde
Greek: γύρος
Italian: tondo
Japanese: 円 circle
Korean: 원형
Norwegian: runde
Polish: runda seria
European Portuguese: redondo
Romanian: cerc
Russian: раунд
Latin American Spanish: círculo
Swedish: omgång
Thai: รูปทรงกลม
Turkish: sıra oyun
Ukrainian: коло
Vietnamese: hình tròn
British English: round /raʊnd/ PREPOSITION
Round a place or object means on all sides of it.
They were sitting round the kitchen table.
American English: around
Arabic: حَوْل
Brazilian Portuguese: ao redor de
Chinese: 围着
Croatian: oko
Czech: kolem
Danish: rundt om
Dutch: rondom
European Spanish: alrededor de
Finnish: ympäri
French: autour de
German: um
Greek: γύρω από
Italian: intorno a
Japanese: ･･･を囲んで
Korean: (…)을 빙 둘러
Norwegian: rundt
Polish: dookoła
European Portuguese: ao redor de
Romanian: în jurul
Russian: вокруг
Latin American Spanish: alrededor de
Swedish: omkring
Thai: ซึ่งเคลื่อนเป็นวงกลม
Turkish: etrafını
Ukrainian: навколо
Vietnamese: vòng quanh
British English: round VERB
If you round a place or obstacle, you move in a curve past the edge or corner of it.
The house disappeared from sight as we rounded a corner.
American English: round
Brazilian Portuguese: dobrar
Chinese: 绕过
European Spanish: doblar
French: tourner
German: biegen um
Italian: girare
Japanese: 曲がる
Korean: 돌아가다
European Portuguese: dobrar
Latin American Spanish: doblar
All related terms of 'round'
all-round
An all-round person is good at a lot of different skills , academic subjects , or sports.
get round
to circumvent or overcome
go round
one of a series of actions, encounters , meetings , etc., often one involving a conflict or fight
put round
round-arm
denoting or using bowling with the arm held more or less horizontal
round in
to haul in on (a line)
round lot
the unit, or a multiple thereof , in which securities , commodities , etc. are typically traded; specif., 100 shares of stock in a transaction
round off
If you round off an activity with something, you end the activity by doing something that provides a clear or satisfactory conclusion to it.
round on
If someone rounds on you, they criticize you fiercely and attack you with aggressive words.
round out
to make or become bigger or plumper ; fill out, esp so as to be symmetrical
round to
to turn the bow of a vessel into the wind
round top
a platform round the masthead of a sailing ship
round up
If the police or army round up a number of people, they arrest or capture them.
top round
Top round is a joint of beef that is cut from the upper part of the cow's leg . It is usually cooked by roasting or stewing .
win round
baton round
a solid PVC cylinder , 10 cm long and 38 mm in diameter , fired by police or military forces to regain control in riots
bring round
to restore (a person) to consciousness, esp after a faint
clear round
an instance of a horse and rider clearing all barriers without making any mistakes
close round
to encircle ; surround
come round
to be restored to life or consciousness
hand round
hang round
look round
milk round
If someone has a milk round , they work as a milkman, going from house to house delivering milk.
paper round
A paper round is a job of delivering newspapers to houses along a particular route. Paper rounds are usually done by children before or after school .
pass round
rally round
to come to the aid of someone; offer moral or practical support
ring round
If you ring round or ring around , you phone several people, usually when you are trying to organize something or to find some information .
roll round
to recur , as in a cycle
round about
In spoken English, round about means approximately.
round angle
an angle of 360°
round arch
a semicircular arch
round clam
→ quahog
round dance
a dance in which the dancers form a circle
round down
to lower (a number) to the nearest whole number or ten , hundred , or thousand below it
round-eyed
→ another word for wide-eyed
round-faced
having a plump face of a roundish shape
round file
a wastepaper basket
round hand
careful handwriting in which the letters are rounded , distinct , full, and almost vertical
round robin
A round-robin is a sports competition in which each player or team plays against every other player or team.
round steak
a steak cut from a round of beef
round table
A round table discussion is a meeting where experts gather together in order to discuss a particular topic .
round tower
a freestanding circular stone belfry built in Ireland from the 10th century beside a monastery and used as a place of refuge
round trip
If you make a round trip , you travel to a place and then back again.
round turn
one complete turn , as of a rope , around something
scrub round
to waive ; avoid or ignore
show round
sniff round
talk round
If you talk someone round , you persuade them to change their mind so that they agree with you, or agree to do what you want them to do