| 释义 |
cir·cle
I. \ˈsərkəl, -ə̄k-, -əik-\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Latin circulus) of Middle English cercle, from Old French, from Latin circulus, diminutive of circus ring, from or akin to Greek kirkos, krikos ring; perhaps akin to Lithuanian kreĩvas crooked, Russian kriv', Greek korōnē ring — more at crown
1.
a. : a bright ring (as around the moon) : halo
b. : a closed plane curve every point of which is equidistant from a fixed point within the curve : circumference, ring — see diameter, radius
c. : the plane surface bounded by such a curve — see area table, pi 2a
2.
a. obsolete : the sphere in which a celestial body was thought to revolve
b. : the orbit of revolution of such a sphere
c. : the period of revolution through the orbit of such a sphere
3. : something having the shape of a closed curve or a section of one; as:
a. : ring, circlet
b. : crown, diadem
c. : an instrument of astronomical observation the graduated limb of which consists of an entire circle
d. : a balcony or tier of seats in a theater or opera house
e. : a group of people (as dancers) or things (as stones, campfires) forming a ring
f. : a circle of latitude or longitude
g. : a small circular park or garden
h. : rotary
4. : something having the shape of an area enclosed by a circle: as
a. : a circus ring
b. : a round plate or sheet
< cutting cloth into circles >
5.
a. obsolete : a region thought of as bounded by a circle
< in the circle of this forest — Shakespeare >
b. : an area of action or influence : realm — compare sphere
6.
a. : a series ending at its starting point : cycle, round
< the circle of 24 hours >
< the wheel has come full circle >
b. logic : fallacious reasoning in which something that ostensibly is being proved or demonstrated is taken for granted or covertly assumed especially in the premises
< arguments in a circle are instances of begging the question >
7.
a. : things grouped in or as if in a system of coordinate members
< a circle of sciences >
b. : a group of people thought of as held together by a common point of interest
< theatrical circles >
: an exclusive group : coterie, clique, elite
< the gossip of court circles >
< the charmed circle of 20-game winners >
c. : a chapter or local group of any of various societies
8. : a territorial or administrative division or district:
a. : any one of the 10 territorial divisions of Germany under the Holy Roman Empire
b. : kreis
c. : a district in India for the issue of government paper currency
9. bookbinding : roll
10. : a circular course or path of movement; specifically : the operation of rounding up cattle
< he would … take the lead for the morning's circle — Will James >
 [circle 1b: AB diameter; C center; CD, CA, CB radii; EKF arc on chord EF; EFKL (area) segment on chord EF; ACD (area) sector; GH secant; TPM tangent at point P; EKFBPDA circumference]
II. verb
(circled ; circled ; circling \-k(ə)liŋ\ ; circles)
Etymology: Middle English cerclen, from cercle, n.
transitive verb
1. : to enclose in or as if in a circle : form a circle or oval around
< the gridiron was circled with a cinder track >
specifically : to draw a circle around for special attention (as for correction or deletion)
< circle the misspelled words >
2.
a. : to move or revolve around : travel around or traverse so as to describe a circle, arc, or curved figure
< fast planes circling the earth >
b. : to cause to move in a circle
c. : to proceed in an arc or curve around (as for avoiding or eluding)
< the ship circled the cape >
< circle an opposing end in football >
3. : to form into a circle : make circular
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to move around or proceed in or as if in a circle or circles
< circle around over a landing strip >
sometimes : to meander or proceed aimlessly
< grass-mounds where water circled, running from scoops and cups to curves and brook streams — George Meredith >
< winding and circling, at last it reaches a conclusion from some point unforeseen — H.O.Taylor >
b. : circulate
c. : to turn in a usually wide loop especially in reversing one's course — often used with back
< circle back toward home >
2. : to form, describe, or extend in a circle
< the lighthouse sent out its slow steady circling beam — R.O.Bowen >
Synonyms: see surround, turn
III. noun
: a residential street that curves and typically loops back on itself — used chiefly in the names of streets
IV. verb
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- circle the wagons |