# circle

Pronunciation: say "SUR-kuhl" US /ˈsɜɹkəl/, UK /ˈsɜːkəl/

## Noun

1. A shape, curve, or arrangement of objects that resembles or approximates a round geometric figure.
   - Simple: A round shape, or a group of things placed in a ring.
   - _The dancers formed a circle in the center of the hall._
   - _Stones were laid out in a rough circle on the hilltop._
2. A group of people connected by shared interests, activities, or acquaintance.
   - Simple: A group of people who know one another or share the same interest.
   - _He moved in a circle of artists and writers._
   - _Her inner circle includes only a few trusted advisers._
3. A flat geometric figure consisting of all the points in a plane that lie an equal distance from a central point.
   - Simple: A round shape where every point on the edge is the same distance from the center.
   - _Every point on a circle is the same distance from its center._
   - _The architect drew a circle with a compass, then divided it into six equal parts for the window design._
7. A round flat area or object; the whole space inside a circular edge, or a disk of material.
   - Simple: A flat round area or piece of something.
   - _He shaded the entire circle on the diagram._
   - _Every home in a circle three miles wide around the plant was evacuated._
8. A series of events or steps that ends where it begins and then repeats.
   - Simple: A series of events that ends where it started and keeps repeating.
   - _Life seemed to move in an endless circle of work and rest._
   - _The talks kept turning in a circle, returning to the same question._
9. Dark, shadowy rings of skin below the eyes, usually from tiredness or lack of sleep; usually plural.
   - Simple: Dark marks under your eyes when you are tired or have not slept enough.
   - _By Friday, deep circles had settled under his eyes from the endless overtime._
   - _Concealer can hide the circles under your eyes, but only rest makes them fade._
10. A circular road junction where traffic moves around a central island. *(India, Philippines, South Africa)*
   - Simple: A round road where cars drive around instead of crossing straight through.
   - _Drivers must yield to traffic already in the circle._
   - _A new circle replaced the old four-way intersection downtown._
12. A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to support one another, so that nothing is actually proved.
   - Simple: A way of arguing where each idea only proves the other, so nothing is really proved.
   - _The reviewer complained that the paper argued in a circle, assuming at the start the very result it claimed to prove._
   - _Logicians call this kind of reasoning a vicious circle: the premise depends on the conclusion, and the conclusion on the premise._
11. A division of territory forming an administrative district.
   - Simple: An area of land that forms one part of a larger region, used for governing.
   - _Tax collectors were appointed for every circle in the kingdom._
   - _The reform redrew the boundaries of each administrative circle._
13. The orbital path along which an astronomical body moves around another.
   - Simple: The curved path a planet or moon follows around another body in space.
   - _The moon completes one circle around the earth about every 27 days._
   - _The satellite completes its circle around the planet every few hours._
14. In Wicca and other pagan or magical practice, a space marked out on the ground or only imagined, cast as a sacred or protective area for ritual; methods of casting vary between traditions.
   - Simple: A sacred space marked out for worship in some pagan religions, where rituals take place.
   - _The priestess cast the circle sunwise with her wand before invoking the elements._
   - _Stones laid at the four quarters defined the circle for the night's worship._
16. A line of two semicircles of thirty-yard radius centered on the wickets and joined by straight lines parallel to the pitch, used to enforce fielding restrictions in one-day cricket.
   - Simple: A marked boundary line on a cricket field that limits where fielders can stand in shorter games.
   - _With only two fielders allowed outside the circle, the batsmen found gaps easily._
   - _The umpire signaled a no-ball when too many players strayed beyond the circle._

## Verb

4. To move around something, or round and round, in a curved or circular path.
   - Simple: To move around something, or keep going round in a circle.
   - _The satellite circles the planet once every ninety minutes._
   - _Eagles circle the mountain peak as they hunt._
5. To mark a ring around something, often to highlight or point it out.
   - Simple: To draw a round mark around something on paper.
   - _The teacher circled every spelling mistake in red ink._
   - _Circle the items you want before you check out._
6. To form a ring around something so as to surround it.
   - Simple: To form a ring around something on all sides.
   - _Mountains circle the valley on every side._
   - _By morning, enemy troops had circled the town, cutting off every road in and out._

## Noun

15. An enclosed area; the compass or circuit of a thing within its boundary. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: An enclosed space, or the area within a boundary.

## Other meanings

- (verb) To take part in a ritual conducted within a magic circle.
- (noun) An indirect form of words; circumlocution.
- (noun) An observing instrument whose graduated measuring arc forms a complete circle, used to read the angular positions of objects in the sky.

## Origin

From Middle English circle, via Old French cercle and Latin circulus, a diminutive of circus ("circle, circus"), which came from Ancient Greek κίρκος (kírkos, "circle, ring") and is related to Old English hring ("ring").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/circle (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).