circle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   any circular or rotating mechanism

   the machine punched out metal circles

2. 2
   noun

   something approximating the shape of a circle

   the chairs were arranged in a circle

3. 3
   verb

   to form a circle around

   The copy editor circled the errors.

4. 4
   verb

   to travel around something

   I circled the globe.

5. 5
   noun

   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).

   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).

6. 6
   noun

   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.

   Near-synonyms: coil, ring, loop

7. 7
   noun

   Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures.

   Children, please join hands and form a circle.

8. 8
   noun

   A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest.

   inner circle

Etymology

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.