semicircle

C2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /ˈsem.iˌsɝː.kəl/ UK /ˈsem.iˌsɜː.kəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #71915

Meanings

1

noun
one half of a circle, bounded by a diameter and the arc joining its endpoints

Draw a semicircle above the line, using the line as its diameter.
2

noun
an arrangement of people or objects in the shape of half a circle

The students sat in a semicircle around the visiting storyteller.
3

noun
soccer: the penalty arc outside the penalty area

The referee moved the defenders back beyond the semicircle before the penalty kick.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · one half of a circle,... half circlehemicycle

2 noun · an arrangement of people or... archalf-moon arrangement

3 noun · soccer: the penalty arc... penalty arcthe D

Opposites

full circle

Word family

Forms semicircular

Derived forms semicircular

Related forms circle diameter archemicycle

Etymology

From semi- 'half' + circle. Both elements ultimately come from Latin: semi- 'half' and circulus 'small ring,' a diminutive of circus 'ring.' The geometrical name naturally broadened to any half-round arrangement.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# semicircle

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsem.iˌsɝː.kəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsem.iˌsɜː.kəl/
**Frequency rank:** 71915

## Meanings
1. one half of a circle, bounded by a diameter and the arc joining its endpoints
2. an arrangement of people or objects in the shape of half a circle
3. soccer: the penalty arc outside the penalty area

## Examples
- Draw a semicircle above the line, using the line as its diameter.
- The students sat in a semicircle around the visiting storyteller.
- The referee moved the defenders back beyond the semicircle before the penalty kick.

## Synonyms
- half circle
- hemicycle
- arc
- penalty arc

## Antonyms
- full circle

## Derived Forms
- semicircular

## Related Forms
- circle
- diameter
- arc
- hemicycle

## Roots and Affixes
- Affix: semi- - half

## Etymology
From semi- 'half' + circle. Both elements ultimately come from Latin: semi- 'half' and circulus 'small ring,' a diminutive of circus 'ring.' The geometrical name naturally broadened to any half-round arrangement.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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