# rounded

/ˈɹaʊndəd/ (US) · /ɹˈaʊndɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rounded
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. curved shape

adjective · CEFR B1

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

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

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

adjective · CEFR B2

having a good variety of different qualities or skills.

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

- The school aims to give students a rounded education that includes art and sports.
- The selection committee is looking for a well-rounded candidate who possesses both technical expertise and strong interpersonal leadership skills.

### 3. simplified numbers

adjective · CEFR B1

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

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

- The total cost is 98 dollars, but let's use a rounded figure of 100 for the budget.
- The report uses rounded percentages to make the statistical trends more accessible to a general audience.

### 4. vowel pronunciation

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: produced with the lips in a circular or protruded position.

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

## Examples

- The table has rounded corners to make it safer for children.
- After years of being washed by the river, the stones on the bank became perfectly smooth and rounded.
- The architect chose a rounded roof design to soften the building's appearance against the sharp, rectangular lines of the surrounding city skyline.

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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.