ENGLISH
REFERENCE

circle

n. countable
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈsɝkəɫ// UK //sˈɜːkəl// cir·cle Archaic General-service Informal

n. a perfectly round shape like a ring or a ball. You can also use it to describe a group of people who share the same interests.

n. a plane figure whose boundary consists of points equidistant from a fixed point. It may also refer to a group of people with shared interests or social connections.


SIMPLE

The children sit in a circle on the floor.

CONTEXTUAL

She has a wide circle of friends from her time living and working in London.

COMPLEX

The architect used a series of overlapping circles to create the building's unique curved facade, blending geometric precision with organic flow.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English circle, cercle, from Old French cercle and Latin circulus, diminutive of Latin circus (“circle, circus”), from Ancient Greek κίρκος (kírkos, “circle, ring”), related to Old English hring (“ring”). Compare also Old English ċircul (“circle, zodiac”), which came from the same Latin source.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of' when referring to social groups ('a circle of friends').

Idioms8 entries

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