# circle

/ˈsɝkəɫ/ (US) · /sˈɜːkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/circle
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. round shape

noun · CEFR A2

a perfectly round shape like a ring or a wheel.

For teachers: a two-dimensional geometric figure consisting of all points in a plane equidistant from a central point.

- The children sat in a circle on the floor to listen to the story.
- The architect used a perfect circle as the central motif for the building's courtyard, symbolising unity and continuity.

### 2. group of people

noun · CEFR B1

a group of people who know each other or share the same interests.

For teachers: a specific social or professional group characterized by shared interests, status, or acquaintance.

- She has a small circle of friends that she has known since primary school.
- Within academic circles, the professor's latest theory on linguistic evolution has sparked significant debate and several follow-up studies.

### 3. under the eyes

noun · CEFR B2

dark or puffy skin under your eyes, often because you are tired.

For teachers: darkened or swollen areas of skin beneath the eyes, typically resulting from fatigue or lack of sleep.

- He had dark circles under his eyes after staying up all night to study.
- The actor used heavy makeup to hide the dark circles that had developed during the grueling three-month filming schedule.

Usage: usually plural

### 4. logical error

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a way of arguing where you use your conclusion to prove your starting point.

For teachers: a fallacious form of argument in which the conclusion is assumed in one of the premises.

- His argument was just a circle; he said the law was good because it was the law.
- The critic pointed out that the author's justification for the protagonist's actions was a logical circle that failed to provide external evidence.

### 5. to move around

verb · CEFR B1

to move in a path that goes around something.

For teachers: to move or travel along a curved path that surrounds a central object or area.

- The birds started to circle high above the trees looking for food.
- The satellite will circle the planet every ninety minutes, transmitting high-resolution data back to the ground station.

### 6. to draw a ring around

verb · CEFR A2

to draw a round line around something on paper.

For teachers: to encompass or mark a specific item by drawing a circular line around it.

- Please circle the correct answer on your exam paper.
- The editor used a red pen to circle several recurring grammatical errors in the final draft of the manuscript.

## Examples

- The children sit in a circle on the floor.
- She has a wide circle of friends from her time living and working in London.
- The architect used a series of overlapping circles to create the building's unique curved facade, blending geometric precision with organic flow.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.