Circle meaning

What does “circle” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“circle” is a noun and verb with 11 meanings. Its most common meaning is: ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point.

circle

noun

  1. ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

    “he calculated the circumference of the circle”

  2. an unofficial association of people or groups

    “the smart set goes there”

    “they were an angry lot”

    Synonymssetbandlot
  3. something approximating the shape of a circle

    “the chairs were arranged in a circle”

  4. movement once around a course

    “he drove an extra lap just for insurance”

    Synonymslapcircuit
  5. a road junction at which traffic streams circularly around a central island

    “the accident blocked all traffic at the rotary”

  6. street names for flunitrazepan

  7. a curved section or tier of seats in a hall or theater or opera house; usually the first tier above the orchestra

    “they had excellent seats in the dress circle”

    Synonymsdress circle
  8. any circular or rotating mechanism

    “the machine punched out metal circles”

    Synonymsround

verb

  1. travel around something

    “circle the globe”

  2. move in a circular path above (someone or something)

    “the plane circled, looking for a landing spot”

  3. form or draw a circle around

    “encircle the errors”

    Synonymsencircle

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University