What does "rounded" mean?

1. (curved shape) having a smooth, curved shape like a circle or a ball. 2. (balanced and complete) having a good variety of different qualities or skills. 3. (simplified numbers) describing a number that has been changed to the nearest simple value, like 10 or 100. 4. (vowel pronunciation) describing a sound made with your lips in the shape of a circle.

How do you use "rounded"?

Usually describes vowels or specific consonant articulations.

rounded

adj.

US //ˈɹaʊndəd// UK //ɹˈaʊndɪd// round·ed

1 curved shape (adj.)
B1 Intermediate

having a smooth, curved shape like a circle or a ball.

having a smooth, curved exterior or outline; lacking sharp angles or points.

Example

The river stones were smooth and rounded after years of water flowing over them.

Example

The architect replaced the sharp corners of the original design with rounded edges to create a more organic and welcoming atmosphere.
2 balanced and complete (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

having a good variety of different qualities or skills.

well-developed in all aspects; balanced and comprehensive in scope or character.

Example

The school aims to give students a rounded education that includes art and sports.

Example

The selection committee is looking for a well-rounded candidate who possesses both technical expertise and strong interpersonal leadership skills.
- limited
- narrow

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3 simplified numbers (adj.)
B1 Intermediate Math

describing a number that has been changed to the nearest simple value, like 10 or 100.

expressed as a whole number or a multiple of ten, hundred, etc., for the sake of convenience or approximation.

Example

The total cost is 98 dollars, but let's use a rounded figure of 100 for the budget.

Example

The report uses rounded percentages to make the statistical trends more accessible to a general audience.
- approximate
- estimated
- exact
- precise
4 vowel pronunciation (adj.)
C1 Advanced Technical Linguistics

describing a sound made with your lips in the shape of a circle.

produced with the lips in a circular or protruded position.

Example

The 'o' sound in 'boat' is a rounded vowel in many English accents.

Example

Phonetic analysis reveals that the speaker consistently produces rounded vowels with more lip protrusion than is typical for that specific dialect.

Usage

Usually describes vowels or specific consonant articulations.
- labialized
- unrounded