circle
(sɜːʳkəl )
Word forms: circles , circling , circled
1. countable noun A2
A circle is a shape consisting of a curved line completely surrounding an area. Every part of the line is the same distance from the centre of the area.
The flag was red, with a large white circle in the centre.
I wrote down the number 46 and drew a circle around it.
Synonyms: ring, round, band, disc
2. countable noun A2
A circle of something is a round flat piece or area of it.
Cut out 4 circles of pastry. [+ of]
...a circle of yellow light. [+ of]
3. countable noun A2
A circle of objects or people is a group of them arranged in the shape of a circle.
The monument consists of a circle of gigantic stones. [+ of]
We stood in a circle holding hands.
4. verb
If something circles an object or a place, or circles around it, it forms a circle around it.
This is the ring road that circles the city. [VERB noun]
...the long curving driveway that circled around the vast clipped lawn. [V + around/round]
Synonyms: go round, ring, surround, belt
5. verb
If an aircraft or a bird circles or circles something, it moves round in a circle in the air.
The plane circled, awaiting permission to land. [VERB]
There were two helicopters circling around. [VERB adverb/preposition]
...like a hawk circling prey. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: wheel, spiral, revolve, rotate
6. verb
To circle around someone or something, or to circle them, means to move around them.
Emily kept circling around her mother. [V + around/round]
The silent wolves would track and circle them. [VERB noun]
7. verb B1
If you circle something on a piece of paper, you draw a circle around it.
Circle the correct answers on the coupon below. [VERB noun]
8. countable noun B2
You can refer to a group of people as a circle when they meet each other regularly because they are friends or because they belong to the same profession or share the same interests.
He has a small circle of friends. [+ of]
Alton has made himself fiercely unpopular in certain circles.
Synonyms: group, company, set, school
9. singular noun
In a theatre or cinema, the circle is an area of seats on the upper floor.
10. See also Arctic Circle, dress circle, inner circle, vicious circle, virtuous circle
11. to come full circle phrase
If you say that you have come full circle or have turned full circle, you mean that after a long series of events or changes the same situation that you started with still exists.
We've come full circle and dark-blue jeans are once again the height of style.
12. go round in circles/go around in circles phrase [VERB inflects]
If you say that someone is going round in circles or around in circles, you mean that they are not achieving anything because they keep coming back to the same point or problem.
Image of circle
© Mario Pantelic, Shutterstock
Idioms:
a vicious circle
a situation where one problem has caused other problems which, in turn, have made the original problem even worse
The economy has been caught in a vicious circle: the economy couldn't create large numbers of jobs because consumers weren't spending; consumers weren't spending because the economy wasn't creating jobs.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
square the circle
to try to solve a problem that seems to be impossible to solve
All have the same hope: that foreign markets and, especially, foreign investment will somehow provide enough jobs to square the circle.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
come full circle or the wheel has come full circle
said to mean that something is now exactly the same as it used to be, although there has been a long period of changes
Her life had now come full circle and she was back where she started, in misery, alone.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
circle the wagons
to unite with the other people in a group in order to protect yourselves and fight whoever is attacking you
Epidemics make us circle the wagons, apportion blame, shy from neighbours.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Collocations:
circle a star circle dance circle of friends circle of light circle overhead circle the earth circle the globe closed circle complete the circle concentric circle dark circles diplomatic circles elite circles expand a circle form a circle friendship circle immediate circle influential circle intellectual circles intimate circle literary circles narrow circle outer circle overlapping circle perfect circle prayer circle rough circle scientific circle tight circle wide circle widen a circle
Researchers identified it by the trail of gas its evaporating atmosphere leaves as it circles the star.
Times,Sunday Times
Final panel: the crystals are raining back down onto the disk of gas and dust circling the star.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
The star was within a black border which circled the star, with the interior the same orange color as the rest of the airplane.
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Inside the circle the stars move faster and outside they move slower than the spiral arms.
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It still exists today as a circle dance.
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The circle dance predominated everywhere, sometimes solo dancers or musicians in the middle, sometimes couples.
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The main feature of the gathering was said to be a great circle dance.
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They were derived from a form of circle dance accompanied by singers, which was popular from the mid-12th century.
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One by one, reaching the leading side of the circle dance, they threw themselves over the cliff.
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Hugely missed by his family and a wide circle of friends.
Times,Sunday Times
He could establish a rapport with anyone of any age and leaves a wide circle of friends.
Times, Sunday Times
He shops in discount stores and says he has a wide circle of friends who often invite him to dinner.
Times, Sunday Times
In fact, the world outside their small circle of friends might not exist, for all the attention they pay to it.
Times, Sunday Times
She said even her own close circle of friends don't usually turn to her advice.
The Sun
As night fell, the crowd in the bleachers grew larger, the dancing more expressive, the darkness adding theatre and concentrating our minds on this unlikely circle of light.
Times, Sunday Times
They twisted the branches into a hoop and attached candles, believing a circle of light would banish the winter darkness and hasten the coming of the spring.
Times, Sunday Times
Within the cheery circle of light shining through our plate-glass window, they would set up their kit and hold their open-air inspirational meeting.
Globe and Mail
When he turns on his flashlight, however, he creates a circle of light that allows him to see clearly and act with relative clarity.
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The comet, now out of the scientist's control, hurtles towards the town in a bright circle of light.
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Military drones circle overhead and mobile phone signals are tracked.
Times, Sunday Times
Parrots shriek in the trees and vultures circle overhead.
Times, Sunday Times
As the raindrops trickle across my brow, seagulls circle overhead, seemingly laughing at my maudlin thoughts.
Times, Sunday Times
The runways are so congested that planes are forced to circle overhead for up to three hours before landing.
The Sun
Red deer pick their way through clearings while ravens and crossbills circle overhead.
Times, Sunday Times
If a plane could go that fast, it could circle the earth 7.5 times-in one second.
Christianity Today
Hundreds more have ventured into space in the ensuing decades, but, anticlimactically, they have done no more than circle the earth in low orbit.
Times,Sunday Times
It was a tremendous plan for a march to circle the earth proposing the end of wars and nuclear disarmament.
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The agency were asking for trouble by making an offer on the site for 35 lucky people to talk live to the astronauts circling the earth.
The Sun
It circles the earth 14.5 times a day at an altitude of 630 km, in a polar orbit with an inclination of 97.60 and a period of 99.039 minutes.
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The 4,287-mile journey took the 18-monthold's tally to 41,182 - nearly enough to circle the globe twice.
The Sun
Recession will have pushed out of existence a number of airlines at present on the brink of bankruptcy, removing many of the empty seats that now circle the globe.
Times, Sunday Times
There are now enough fibre-optic cables to circle the globe 30,000 times.
Times, Sunday Times
Jet-setters circle the globe guilt-free, offsetting their carbon expenditure by planting acres of forest.
Times, Sunday Times
All these factors mean a virulent new virus could circle the globe very rapidly.
Times, Sunday Times
The public are allowed into the closed circle of mutually supportive badinage only to be the silent audience, forbidden even to laugh.
Times, Sunday Times
This isn’t a closed circle, however, because new tunes and musical voices may be added.
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This, in itself, was a neatly closed circle.
Times, Sunday Times
He faulted federal regulators for failing to listen to warnings from outside a closed circle of advisors.
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Dancers form a closed circle, putting their hands on each other's shoulders.
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Exhale to complete the circle away from the midline.
The Sun
Today, he needs a further 62 runs to complete the circle.
Times, Sunday Times
Arrange 12 apple halves upright around the edge of the tin to complete a circle.
Times, Sunday Times
Put other end of s-clip to complete the circle.
The Sun
The audience watched him become airbone and complete a circle using thrusters attached to his arms and back.
Times, Sunday Times
Drain the pears, dab dry with kitchen paper, then arrange on top in a concentric circle.
Times, Sunday Times
The second flag concentric circle of 11 stars around crossed keris on a blue field.
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Theories of city form were available, sector and concentric circle concepts, in particular.
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Each concentric circle represents a different frequency, emanating from zero at the center to increasing frequencies at the outer circles.
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The captures must be done either sideways on a concentric circle, or forwards or backwards on a radiating line.
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I always have dark circles under my eyes.
The Sun (2013)
Dark circles under the eyes are inevitable at this time of year.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Too many toxins put a strain on the liver and kidneys, and this often manifests itself in blemishes and dark circles.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The art of 'power-gifting' has its origins in diplomatic circles.
Times, Sunday Times
Perhaps he imagined that he'd be received in high diplomatic circles, even welcomed as a hero.
The Times Literary Supplement
The answers are often spiced with both the values of a class system and the precision of language still prevalent in some diplomatic circles.
Times, Sunday Times
His reputation for ruthlessness and brutality was widely known in western diplomatic circles.
Times, Sunday Times
It has obviously been a quiet year in diplomatic circles.
Times, Sunday Times
It makes me understand the world better today, because it didn't take into account that, within these elite circles, greed can enter.
Times, Sunday Times
Shut out of elite circles of intellectual discourse, fundamentalists learned to get the public's attention by direct appeal through the more populist media.
Christianity Today
Both stories have long been discussed privately in elite circles.
Times, Sunday Times
Many worked in the elite circles arriving as provincial governors.
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Harry uses his wealth and influence in elite circles to organise a search for the elusive bird.
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This will broaden your mind and expand your circle of friends.
The Sun
You've decided that to get to the next level in your spiritual life, you'll need to expand your circle of friends.
The Sun
You're happier mixing with strangers, too, so expand your circle of friends.
The Sun
Could we not make that number higher, and expand the circle further to include believers who are closer to home?
Christianity Today
Journalist advised her to expand the circle of authors and intoning in practice (suitable for this purpose and masterpieces of world pop rock different years).
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Knead briefly, then pat it down to form a circle 1.5cm thick.
The Sun
Players form a circle and the first player squeezes the hand of the person to the right and ducks under.
Times, Sunday Times
Overlap the rest of the fish with the beetroot and orange slices to form a circle.
Times, Sunday Times
They seemed to form a circle and were attached to something.
The Sun
They're very protective, and form a circle of steel around me if they think a guy doesn't have good intentions.
The Sun
They've created a friendship circle in which they are safe enough to be 100% themselves.
Times, Sunday Times
Once she has a wider friendship circle, things should improve.
The Sun
Your friendship circle gets bigger, bringing new names with fresh influences.
The Sun
Love-wise, the moon brings a gifted artist into your friendship circle.
The Sun
Slowly build up the time you spend at home, and also your friendship circle.
The Sun
And should it consider not just individuals but also their immediate circle?
Times, Sunday Times
They were the discoveries that made his name known beyond his immediate circle.
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In our constantly interconnected world social media provides the opportunity to have influence far beyond our immediate circle of contacts.
Christianity Today
What can palliate the blow for his immediate circle?
Times, Sunday Times
For some reason, there are a couple of people in your immediate circle who would like you to trip up in projects.
The Sun
In her parents' salon, she became a celebrated artist and introduced in influential circles, and she made her drawings and paintings there.
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It sold well, but caused much offence in influential circles when the authorship was discovered.
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Even in his own time, his work attracted notice in influential circles.
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He moves in intellectual circles as well as more sluggish ones.
Times, Sunday Times
His contributions to the decline of anti-semitism in intellectual circles in the twentieth century was very significant.
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While he had explained this argument before in a history text, this book, written more in the style of polemic, became famous in intellectual circles.
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Spiritism and theosophical writings were also influential in intellectual circles.
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Her charm also assisted the couple's entry into prominent social and lite artistic and intellectual circles.
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If you want to live happily ever after, include friends in your intimate circle.
Times, Sunday Times
At least these people retain some vestiges of anonymity beyond their intimate circle.
The Times Literary Supplement
You couldn't go anywhere but your intimate circle.
Times, Sunday Times
His disappointment was especially known to his intimate circle.
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Outside this intimate circle of the immediate family, the same principles of kinship and seniority hold sway.
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She cared little about moving in literary circles.
Times, Sunday Times
They were the real thing for him, not the esteem of literary circles.
Times, Sunday Times
His diaries for early 1894 reveal, first, his uneasy relation to literary circles.
The Times Literary Supplement
And there was the disaffection that, by 1929, was a settled attitude in literary circles.
The Times Literary Supplement
Literary circles are populated by adequate talents staggering comically under the weight of outsize egos.
Times, Sunday Times
Many bankers and economists are reluctant to talk to writers or anyone outside their narrow circle.
Times, Sunday Times
Evolution, he suggests, bestowed humans with a small kernel of empathy which, by default, they apply to a narrow circle of friends and relations.
Times, Sunday Times
His literary output was not large, and it gained immediate appreciation only in a narrow circle of intimate friends.
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They also reek of limited opportunities, narrow circles and the boredom of never having anything real to do.
The Times Literary Supplement
Otherwise, even the rare examples of truly authentic self-representations remain visible only within the narrow circles of academia or human rights festivals.
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Step from the inner circle into the outer circle of power and the story of privilege continues.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We have many potential allies in the EU's outer circle.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
As a member of the outer circle of the Xhosa royal household, he says that he learnt a lot about the techniques of leadership.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Continue to arrange filo sheets (brushing each sheet with melted butter) as if around a clock face, until you have an overlapping circle shape.
Times, Sunday Times
The north wall has a window with two lights (sections of window separated by mullions) topped with trefoils (a pattern of three overlapping circles).
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While she's talking the camera gives a closeup of a birthmark or scar in the shape of two overlapping circles.
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The window at the east end had a pair of lights, topped by trefoils (a stonework pattern of three overlapping circles).
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The windows in the 19th-century part are topped with trefoils (a stonework pattern of three overlapping circles) and set into square frames.
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The perfect circle of ice was 3m (10ft) across and spun in a complete rotation every four minutes.
Times, Sunday Times
Not by going for a run, but by holding onto each other's ankles and curving to form a perfect circle.
Times, Sunday Times
And he managed to dodge his own torpedo when it malfunctioned and set offin a perfect circle.
Times, Sunday Times
I pat the dough inside it, then smooth it out with the back of a spoon, creating a perfect circle.
Times, Sunday Times
The 4,000-year-old statue slowly spins round in a perfect circle, despite being safely locked in a glass case.
The Sun
Informal prayer circles have been practiced for centuries.
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Their weekday schedule includes meals, chapel service, several class periods, and prayer circles.
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Members typically referred to their meetings, which were held usually every two weeks, as prayer circles, because prayer played an important role in the group's religious activities.
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Then place the pastry between two sheets of baking paper and roll it out until you have a rough circle about ½cm thick.
Times, Sunday Times
They are geometric chords of the rough circle formed by the glottis in cross-section.
The Times Literary Supplement
Put the pâte sucrée on a lightly floured surface and roll it out to a rough circle about 25cm in diameter.
Times, Sunday Times
Lightly dust a surface with a little flour and roll out each ball into a rough circle, about 25cm in diameter.
Times,Sunday Times
Roll a ball out with your hands, then flatten it into a rough circle bigger than the muffin hole and push it down into the muffin tin.
The Sun
She claimed that the e-mails were evidence of a 'highly politicised scientific circle' whose policies 'would change our economy for the worse'.
Times, Sunday Times
There has been a lively debate about telepathy in scientific circles this week.
Times, Sunday Times
I was subsequently even more amazed to learn that this theory had been round the block in scientific circles.
Times, Sunday Times
The first stories of its existence reached scientific circles in 1818.
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He often accepted visitors from scientific circles in his parish.
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She maintained a tight circle of friends and her conversation was as vivacious as it was cerebral, emanating from her love of travel and politics.
Times,Sunday Times
He's always had such a tight circle of friends, but he doesn't see them any more.
Times,Sunday Times
People become chained in a tight circle of hopelessness.
Christianity Today
They demonstrate the royal couple's determination to leave convention behind and keep their trust in a tight circle of (relatively) normal friends.
Times, Sunday Times
We were standing there, in a tight circle with a fourth person my memory has blanked out.
Times, Sunday Times
She had a wide circle of friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Major illnesses and injuries plunge a wide circle of loved ones into crisis.
Christianity Today (2000)
He systematically conspired with a wide circle of people to change the nature of his sport.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Perhaps he needs to widen his circle of friends.
Times, Sunday Times
Although he has been warned repeatedly that he needs to widen his circle, he refuses to do so.
Times, Sunday Times
Try to widen your circle of friends rather than depending on just one, and try voluntary or charity work.
The Sun
My leaflet about feeling lonely will help you widen your circle of friends.
The Sun
Work on building up your confidence, then widen your circle of friends so you have the best chance of meeting someone who will value you.
The Sun
Translations:
Chinese: 圆形, 环绕
Japanese: 円 丸, 丸で囲む
- play both ends against the middle
- playboy
- play bridge
- play button
- play-by-play
- play catch-up
- play chess
- play chords
- play cricket
- play cupid
- play defence
- Play-Doh
- play down
- play ducks and drakes with someone
- player
- player award
- player injury
- player-manager
- player piano
- player rating
- player salary
- players' association
- players compete
- player scores
- player wages