circle

plural circles

1. geometryA 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 set of all points (x, y) such that (x − 1)² + y² = r² is a circle of radius r around the point (1, 0).

   1. colloquialgeometryA 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.

      Near-synonyms: coil, ring, loop

      Synonyms: disc, disk, round, coil, ring, loop

   2. geometryThe orbit of an astronomical body.
   3. geographyA circle of latitude.

      the 49th circle

      1 more example

      Antarctic Circle, Arctic Circle

      Synonyms: line

2. A state of moving as to follow a circle; a route that forms a circle.

   The children ran circles around the tree.

   1 more example

   The troops spent ten minutes marching in circle.

3. 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.

   3. ball gamesA 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.

      Synonyms: 30 yard circle, cricket circle, field circle, fielding circle

   4. A magic circle.
   5. WiccaA 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.
   6. DundeeIndiaPhilippinesSouth AfricaA traffic circle or roundabout.

      He arrived at the lakefront and drove around the circle where the amusement park and beach used to be when he was a kid[…]

      2011, Charles E. Webb, Downfall and Freedom, page 120

      Synonyms: rotary, roundabout, traffic circle

   7. businessA headband or diadem.
   8. A road with a curve in it or that ends in a circle, e.g., a cul-de-sac.

      I live on Grover Circle.

   9. entertainmentA curved level of a balcony of seats in a theater.
   10. astronomyAn 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.
   11. campingA campfire circle.
   12. danceA circle dance.
4. A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest.

   literary circle

   5 more examples

   I need an in to start hanging out with that circle.

   As his name gradually became known, the circle of his acquaintance widened.

   1856 February, [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “Oliver Goldsmith”, in T[homas] F[lower] E[llis], editor, The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, new edition, London: Longman, Green, Reader, & Dyer, published 1871, →OCLC

   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.

   1892, Walter Besant, chapter III, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC

   “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—!"

   1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VI, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC

   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.

   1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC

   Synonyms: circle of friends, crowd, bunch, gang, group, social circle

   1. The people who associate with and follow someone; one's inner circle.

      I don't trust anyone in his circle.

      Synonyms: circle of friends, crowd, bunch, gang, group, social circle, entourage, posse

   2. JapanesefictionSynonym of doujin circle.

      Synonyms: circle of friends, crowd, bunch, gang, group, social circle, doujin circle

5. A real or figurative cycle.

   circle of life

   4 more examples

   the circle of the wheel

   We've come full circle.

   We've been talking in circles.

   Has he given the lie, / In circle, or oblique, or semicircle.

   1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, (please specify the Internet Archive page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

   1. A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.

      Thus in a circle runs the peasant's pain.

      1697, Virgil, “The Second Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   2. human sciencesA form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.

      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.

      1661, Joseph Glanvill, chapter XVIII, in The Vanity of Dogmatizing: Or Confidence in Opinions. […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […], →OCLC, page 171

   3. indirectIndirect form of words; circumlocution.
6. A territorial division or district.

   the circles of Hell

   1 more example

   The ten Circles of the Holy Roman Empire were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet.

   1. entertainmentAn area near a concert set aside for aggressive moshing.

      Synonyms: circle pit, mosh circle, pit, mosh pit

   2. broadlyfigurativelyAn area of impact or possibility.

      within the circle of probability

      1 more example

      These are the duties within the morning shift's circle of responsibility.

   3. obsoleteCompass; circuit; enclosure.

      in the circle of this forest

      c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]

7. in pluralA bagginess of the skin below the eyes from lack of sleep.

   After working all night, she had circles under her eyes.

8. University of Warwick slangAn event at which circling takes place.

present singular third person circles · participle present circling · participle past circled · past circled

1. transitiveTo travel around along a curved path; to orbit.

   The wolves circled the herd of deer.

   1 more example

   Other planets circle other suns.

   1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], (please specify |epistle=I to IV), London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC

   1. transitiveTo surround; to encompass within a circle.

      A high fence circles the enclosure.

      3 more examples

      The lightbulb circled the patio in light.

      Their heads are circled with a short turban.

      1699, William Dampier, Voyages and Descriptions

      So he lies, circled with evil.

      1798, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Dungeon

2. transitiveTo place in a circle; to make a circle.

   We circled stones around him.

   1. transitiveTo place or mark a circle around.

      Circle the jobs that you are interested in applying for.

   2. transitiveTo smoke cannabis in a circle, passing the cannabis around from person to person.

      We circled a joint that afternoon.

   3. intransitivetransitivelifestyleTo take part in a magic circle.

      I circled with that group for three years.

   4. obsoletetransitiveTo add someone to a circle on the social media site Google+.
3. intransitiveTo travel in circles.

   Vultures circled overhead.

   Synonyms: gyrate

   1. intransitivetransitiveTo move in a circle around a target in preparation for an attack.

      The shark circled the diver for several minutes.

      Synonyms: gyrate

   2. intransitiveTo circulate.

      The rumor circled through the crowd.

      Synonyms: gyrate

   3. figurativelyintransitivetransitiveto consider or negotiate an agreement.

      A high-profile actor is circling the next Spielberg movie.

      Synonyms: gyrate

4. University of Warwick slangTo participate in a game of circling.

1. A census-designated place in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. Erroneously thought to be on the Arctic Circle, which is 50 miles further north.
2. A town, the county seat of McCone County, Montana, United States. Named after a cattle brand in the form of a circle.
3. the Circle line of the London Underground, originally the Inner Circle.

   The authorising acts were passed in July 1864, and this legislation brought into being what is today the Circle Line ... all of which sounds very simple. In reality it would be a painful process.

   2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 48

plural Circles

1. A surname from German.