# round

/ˈɹaʊnd/ (US) · /ɹˈaʊnd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. circular shape

adjective · CEFR A1

shaped like a circle or a ball.

For teachers: having a curved shape that forms a circle or sphere; lacking sharp corners.

- The children sat at a large round table to eat their lunch.
- The architect specified round windows for the upper floor to soften the building's otherwise harsh geometric profile.

### 2. whole number

adjective · CEFR B1

a number that is easy to use, usually ending in zero.

For teachers: expressed as a whole number or a multiple of ten, hundred, etc., for convenience.

- Let's just call it a round fifty dollars to make the payment easier.
- The accountant suggested using round figures in the initial presentation to avoid distracting the board with minor decimal discrepancies.

### 3. part of a competition

noun · CEFR A2

one stage of a game, competition, or a boxing match.

For teachers: one of a series of repeated stages in a competition or a timed period of play in sports like boxing.

- The boxer won the first round but started to look tired in the second.
- After three rounds of intense negotiation, both parties finally agreed on a compromise regarding the environmental clauses.

### 4. drinks for a group

noun · CEFR B1

a set of drinks bought by one person for everyone in a group.

For teachers: a single serving of something, typically alcoholic drinks, provided to every member of a group.

- It is my turn to buy a round of drinks for the team.
- He generously ordered a round of champagne for the entire table to celebrate the successful merger.

### 5. ammunition

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a single bullet or piece of ammunition for a gun.

For teachers: a single unit of ammunition consisting of a projectile and its casing.

- The soldier had only one round left in his rifle.
- The forensic team recovered several spent rounds from the scene, which helped them identify the type of weapon used.

### 6. regular route

noun · CEFR B1

a regular path someone takes to do their job, like a doctor or a mail carrier.

For teachers: a regular circuit or series of visits made by someone in the course of their duties.

- The doctor is doing her rounds in the hospital this morning.
- The security guard completes his rounds every hour to ensure all external gates remain securely locked.

### 7. to go past

verb · CEFR B2

to move around a corner or a curve.

For teachers: to pass around or move past a corner, bend, or cape.

- The car slowed down as it rounded the sharp corner.
- As the yacht rounded the headland, the crew was met with much stronger winds and choppy seas.

### 8. to estimate

verb · CEFR B1

to change a number to the nearest whole number or ten.

For teachers: to approximate a numerical value to the nearest whole number or power of ten.

- You can round 9.8 up to 10 to make the math simpler.
- The software is programmed to round all currency conversions to the nearest cent to maintain accounting accuracy.

Usage: Often used with 'up' or 'down'.

### 9. surrounding

preposition · CEFR A2 · British English

in a circle around something or on the other side of a corner.

For teachers: expressing movement or position in a circle or around a central point; also used for location on the further side of something.

- They sat round the fire and told ghost stories all night.
- The path winds round the base of the mountain, offering spectacular views of the valley below.

Teaching tip: In American English, 'around' is almost always preferred for this sense.

### 10. circularly

adverb · CEFR A2 · British English

moving in a circle or to a different direction.

For teachers: in a circular direction or to a position facing the opposite way.

- The wheels spun round and round in the mud.
- He turned round to see who was calling his name from the back of the crowd.

## Examples

- He wins the first round of the match.
- The boxer was knocked out in the third round of the championship fight.
- After several rounds of intense negotiation, the two parties finally reached an agreement that satisfied their core demands without conceding too much on secondary issues.

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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.