circle
Pluralcircles
Verbcircles, circling, circled
Pluralcircles
Formscircles, circling, circled
- 1A round shape, or a group of things placed in a ring.
Like kids standing in a ring holding hands.
The children sat in a circle on the floor.
She arranged the candles in a circle around the cake.
UsageSay sit in a circle.
Similarring
- 2
- 3A round shape where every point on the edge is the same distance from the center.
Like the edge of a coin, where every point is the same distance from the middle.
She drew a perfect circle with a compass.
The teacher asked us to measure the circle on the board.
Similarring
Note
- 4To move around something, or keep going round in a circle.
Like a toy train going around its track.
The plane had to circle the airport before landing.
Sharks circled the boat slowly.
UsageBirds circle a field, or just circle overhead.
Similarorbit
Note
- 5
- 6
- 7A flat round area or piece of something.
Like a coin: the whole flat round piece, not just its rim.
Color the whole circle blue, not just the edge.
The goat on a rope ate all the grass in a circle.
Similardisk
- 8A series of events that ends where it started and keeps repeating.
Like a clock hand coming back to where it began.
The seasons move in a circle, from spring back to spring.
Their argument went in a circle and solved nothing.
UsageSay we're going round in circles when we keep trying or discussing something but get no further.
- 9
- 10A round road where cars drive around instead of crossing straight through.
Like a merry-go-round that cars drive around instead of crossing.
Take the second exit at the circle.
Cars slowed down as they entered the circle.
Similarroundabout, rotary
Note
- 11
Less common meanings
- 12A way of arguing where each idea only proves the other, so nothing is really proved.
Like a dog chasing its tail: going round and round but never catching anything.
You are arguing in a circle if your reason is the same as your claim.
Saying the book is true because the book says so is arguing in a circle.
UsagePeople usually say circular reasoning.
Note
- 13The curved path a planet or moon follows around another body in space.
Like a runner going around and around a track.
The moon travels in a wide circle around the earth.
Each planet follows its own circle around the sun.
Similarorbit, circuit, revolution
- 14A sacred space marked out for worship in some pagan religions, where rituals take place.
Like marking off a special area for a ceremony before it begins.
The coven gathered to cast a circle before the ceremony began.
The priestess cast a circle, and everyone stepped inside for the ritual.
Note
- 15An enclosed space, or the area within a boundary.
in the circle of this forest
c. 1598, William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”Here, circle means the area inside the edges, so within this forest.Note
- 16A marked boundary line on a cricket field that limits where fielders can stand in shorter games.
The captain kept four fielders inside the circle during the powerplay.
He hit the ball just past the circle for an easy run.
Note
- 17To join in a pagan ritual held inside a sacred circle.
- 18An indirect, roundabout way of saying something instead of stating it plainly.
Has he given the lie, / In circle, or oblique, or semicircle.
1610, Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist - 19A measuring tool used in astronomy with a full round scale for reading angles in the sky.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Latin circulus, a small form of circus meaning "circle," which came from Greek kírkos, "circle" or "ring."
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts
- Circle derives from Latin circulus, a diminutive of circus. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin circus means circle. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin circus derives from Greek kírkos. en.wikipedia.org
- Greek kírkos means circle or ring. en.wiktionary.org