circular

comparative more circular · superlative most circular

1. Of or relating to a circle.
2. In the shape of, or moving in, a circle.

   Near-synonyms: oval; round; toroid, ringlike, round-like

   1 more example

   Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   Synonyms: annular, ring-shaped, O-shaped, oval, round, toroid, ringlike, round-like

3. Circuitous or roundabout.
4. Referring back to itself, so as to prevent computation or comprehension; infinitely recursive.

   circular reasoning

   3 more examples

   Your dictionary defines "brave" as "courageous", and "courageous" as "brave". That's a circular definition.

   a circular formula in a spreadsheet

   It must be conceded that this definition (the definition of tort) is somewhat circular, but it is the only one that will suffice.

   2019, Paulia Giliker, chapter 1, in Tort, Eighth edition, Thompson Reuters, →ISBN, What is tort? (section 1-002), page 2

5. Distributed to a large number of persons.

   a proclamation of Henry III., […] doubtless circular throughout England

   1827, Henry Hallam, The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC

6. obsoletePerfect; complete.

   A man so absolute and circular / In all those wished-for rarities that may take / A virgin captive.

   1632, Philip Massinger, Maid of Honour, act I, scene 2

7. archaicAdhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean; inferior.

   February 1, 1711, John Dennis, on the Genius and Writings of Shakespeare Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered to history, how could the Romans have had Dido?

plural circulars

1. An advertisement, directive or notice intended for mass circulation.

   Near-synonym: flyer (advertisement)

   1 more example

   The pigeon-hole was also stuffed with circulars and hand-bills.

   1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 2, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section I, page 40

   Synonyms: flyer

2. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of circular letter.
3. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of circular file.
4. datedA sleeveless cloak cut from a circular pattern.
5. A shuttle bus with a circular route.

present singular third person circulars · participle present circularing · participle past circulared · past circulared

1. To distribute circulars to or at.

   It is true, that, to obtain these, some six hundred or more institutions were circulared, and a good many of these a second time.

   1873, Old and new - Volume 8, page 101

   3 more examples

   The result of the sending of these notices confirms me in the opinion, that it will be necessary to adopt legal means with the great majority of these parties. The circulars have had little effect. In fact, the parties have been “circulared" into the notion that nothing more formidable will ever be sent to them.

   1851, G. W. Muir, Report on the State of Engine and Other Furnaces, page 19

   I do not mean to say we have never employed some of them who come to us—but we have never circulared agents or gone after them.

   1909, American Life Convention, Report of the Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Life Convention, page 42

   If you've ever been circulared by drug repackaging houses, you know they usually offer to trade a selection of office supplies for your unused drug samples.

   1962, Harrie Sheridan Baketel, Medical Economics - Volume 39, page 141

2. To extend in a circular direction.

   The theme can be expressed in an architectural analogy. For, of all contriving to encover space, the arch — alone or 'circulared' into the dome — is the most ingenious.

   2008, Donald E. Wagner, Kenneth Cragg, Dying in the Land of Promise, page 116