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Webster 1913 Edition

Circle

Cir′cle

(sẽr′k’l)
,
Noun.
[OE.
cercle
, F.
cercle
, fr. L.
circulus
(Whence also AS.
circul
), dim. of
circus
circle, akin to Gr.
κρίκος
,
κίρκος
, circle, ring. Cf.
Circus
,
Circum-
.]
1.
A plane figure, bounded by a single curve line called its
circumference
, every part of which is equally distant from a point within it, called the
center
.
2.
The line that bounds such a figure; a circumference; a ring.
3.
(Astron.)
An instrument of observation, the graduated limb of which consists of an entire circle.
☞ When it is fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a
mural circle
; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y’s, in the plane of the meridian, a
meridian circle
or
transit circle
; when involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, a
reflecting circle
; and when that of repeating an angle several times continuously along the graduated limb, a
repeating circle
.
4.
A round body; a sphere; an orb.
It is he that sitteth upon the
circle
of the earth.
Is. xi. 22.
5.
Compass; circuit; inclosure.
In the
circle
of this forest.
Shakespeare
6.
A company assembled, or conceived to assemble, about a central point of interest, or bound by a common tie; a class or division of society; a coterie; a set.
As his name gradually became known, the
circle
of his acquaintance widened.
Macaulay.
7.
A circular group of persons; a ring.
8.
A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.
Thus in a
circle
runs the peasant's pain.
Dryden.
9.
(Logic)
A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.
That heavy bodies descend by gravity; and, again, that gravity is a quality whereby a heavy body descends, is an impertinent
circle
and teaches nothing.
Glanvill.
10.
Indirect form of words; circumlocution.
[R.]
Has he given the lie,
In
circle
, or oblique, or semicircle.
J. Fletcher.
11.
A territorial division or district.
☞
The Circles of the Holy Roman Empire
, ten in number, were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet.
Syn. – Ring; circlet; compass; circuit; inclosure.

Cir′cle

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Circled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Circling
.]
[OE.
cerclen
, F.
cercler
, fr. L.
circulare
to make round. See
Circle
,
Noun.
, and cf.
Circulate
.]
1.
To move around; to revolve around.
Other planets
circle
other suns.
Pope.
2.
To encompass, as by a circle; to surround; to inclose; to encircle.
Prior. Pope.
Their heads are
circled
with a short turban.
Dampier.
So he lies,
circled
with evil.
Coleridge.
To circle in
,
to confine; to hem in; to keep together; as, to circle bodies in.
Sir K. Digby.

Cir′cle

,
Verb.
I.
To move circularly; to form a circle; to circulate.
Thy name shall
circle
round the gaping through.
Byron.

Webster 1828 Edition

Circle

CIRCLE

, n.
1.
In geometry, a plane figure comprehended by a single curve line, called its circumference, every part of which is equally distant from a point called the center. Of course all lines drawn from the center to the circumference or periphery, are equal to each other.
2.
In popular use, the line that comprehends the figure, the plane or surface comprehended, and the whole body or solid matter of a round substance, are denominated a circle; a ring; an orb; the earth.
3.
Compass; circuit; as the circle of the forest.
4.
An assembly surrounding the principal person. Hence, any company, or assembly; as a circle of friends, or of beauties. Hence the word came to signify indefinitely a number of persons of a particular character, whether associated or not; as a political circle; the circle of ones acquaintance; having however reference to a primary association.
5.
A series ending where it begins, and perpetually repeated; a going round.
Thus in a circle runs the peasants pain.
6.
Circumlocution; indirect form of words.
7.
In logic, an inconclusive form of argument, when the same terms are proved in orbem by the same terms, and the parts of the syllogism alternately by each other, directly and indirectly; or when the foregoing proposition is proved by the following, and the following is inferred from the foregoing; as, that heavy bodies descend by gravity, and that gravity is a quality by which a heavy body descends.
8.
Circles of the sphere, are such as cut the mundane sphere, and have their periphery either on its movable surface, as the meridians; or in another immovable, conterminous and equidistant surface, as the ecliptic, equator, and its parallels.
9.
Circles of altitude or almucantars, are circles parallel to the horizon, having their common pole in the zenith, and diminishing as they approach the zenith.
10.
Circles of latitude, are great circles perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, passing through its poles and through every star and planet.
11.
Circles of longitude, are lesser circles parallel to the ecliptic, diminishing as they recede from it.
12.
Circle of perpetual apparition, one of the lesser circles, parallel to the equator, described by any point of the sphere touching the northern point of the horizon, and carried about with the diurnal motion. The stars within this circle never set.
13.
Circle of perpetual occultation, another lesser circle at a like distance from the equator, which includes all the stars which never appear in our hemisphere.
14.
Diurnal circles, are immovable circles supposed to be described by the several stars and other points in the heavens, in their diurnal rotation round the earth, or rather in the rotation of the earth round its axis.
15.
Horary circles, in dialing, are the lines which show the hours on dials.
16.
Circles of the empire, the provinces or principalities of the German empire, which have a right to be present at the diets. Maximilian I. divided the empire into six circles at first, and afterwards into ten; Austria, Burgundy, Lower Rhine, Bavaria, Upper Saxony, Franconia, Swabia, Upper Rhine, Westphalia, and Lower Saxony.
17.
Druidical circles, in British Topography, are certain ancient inclosures formed by rude stones circularly arranged; as Stone-henge near Salisbury.

CIRCLE

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To move round; to revolve round.
And other planets circle other suns.
2.
To encircle; to encompass; to surround; to inclose.
3.
To circle in, to confine; to keep together.

CIRCLE

,
Verb.
I.
To move circularly; as, the bowl circles; the circling years.

Definition 2024

circle

circle

English

A circle

Noun

circle ‎(plural circles)

  1. (geometry) A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from another point.
    The set of all points (x, y) such that (x-1)2 + y2 = r2 is a circle of radius r around the point (1, 0).
  2. A two-dimensional geometric figure, a disk, consisting of the set of all those points of a plane at a distance less than or equal to a fixed distance from another point.
  3. Any thin three-dimensional equivalent of the geometric figures.
    Put on your dunce-cap and sit down on that circle.‎
  4. A curve that more or less forms part or all of a circle.
    move in a circle‎
  5. Orbit.
  6. A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest.
    inner circle;  circle of friends‎
    • Thomas Macaulay (1800-1859)
      As his name gradually became known, the circle of his acquaintance widened.
    • 1893, Walter Besant, The Ivory Gate, chapter III:
      At half-past nine on this Saturday evening, the parlour of the Salutation Inn, High Holborn, contained most of its customary visitors. […] In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.
    • 1907, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “chapter VI”, in The Younger Set (Project Gutenberg; EBook #14852), New York, N.Y.: A. L. Burt Company, published 1 February 2005 (Project Gutenberg version), OCLC 4241346:
      “I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle, brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera, the gorged dowagers, […], the jewelled animals whose moral code is the code of the barnyard—!"
    • 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit
      The Rabbit could not claim to be a model of anything, for he didn’t know that real rabbits existed; he thought they were all stuffed with sawdust like himself, and he understood that sawdust was quite out-of-date and should never be mentioned in modern circles.
  7. (cricket) A line comprising two semicircles of 30 yards radius centred on the wickets joined by straight lines parallel to the pitch used to enforce field restrictions in a one-day match.
  8. (Wicca) A ritual circle that is cast three times deosil and closes three times widdershins either in the air with a wand or literally with stones or other items used for worship.
  9. (South Africa) A traffic circle or roundabout.
    • 2011, Charles E. Webb, Downfall and Freedom, p.120:
      He arrived at the lakefront and drove around the circle where the amusement park and beach used to be when he was a kid […]
  10. (obsolete) Compass; circuit; enclosure.
  11. (astronomy) An instrument of observation, whose graduated limb consists of an entire circle. When fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a mural circle; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y's, in the plane of the meridian, a meridian or transit circle; when involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, a reflecting circle; and when that of repeating an angle several times continuously along the graduated limb, a repeating circle.
  12. A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.
    • John Dryden (1631-1700)
      Thus in a circle runs the peasant's pain.
  13. (logic) A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.
    • Joseph Glanvill (1636-1680)
      That heavy bodies descend by gravity; and, again, that gravity is a quality whereby a heavy body descends, is an impertinent circle and teaches nothing.
  14. Indirect form of words; circumlocution.
    • John Fletcher (1579-1625)
      Has he given the lie, / In circle, or oblique, or semicircle.
  15. A territorial division or district.
    The ten Circles of the Holy Roman Empire were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet.‎
  16. (in the plural) A bagginess of the skin below the eyes from lack of sleep.
    After working all night, she had circles under her eyes.

Synonyms

  • (two-dimensional outline geometric figure): coil (not in mathematical use), ring (not in mathematical use), loop (not in mathematical use)
  • (two-dimensional solid geometric figure): disc/disk (in mathematical and general use), round (not in mathematical use; UK & Commonwealth only)
  • (curve): arc, curve
  • (orbit): orbit
  • (a specific group of persons): bunch, gang, group

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

circle ‎(third-person singular simple present circles, present participle circling, simple past and past participle circled)

  1. (transitive) To travel around along a curved path.
    • Alexander Pope
      Other planets circle other suns.
  2. (transitive) To surround.
    • Dampier
      Their heads are circled with a short turban.
    • Coleridge
      So he lies, circled with evil.
  3. (transitive) To place or mark a circle around.
    Circle the jobs that you are interested in applying for.
  4. (intransitive) To travel in circles.
    Vultures circled overhead.

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Etymology

From Latin circulus. Replaced Middle English cercle, from Old French cercle, from the same Latin source.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: sûrʹ-kəl, IPA(key): /ˈsɜɹkəl/
    • (UK) IPA(key): [ˈsɜː.kəɫ]
    • (US) IPA(key): [ˈsɝ.kəɫ]
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)kəl
  • Hyphenation: cir‧cle

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