circle (circles plural & 3rd person present) (circling present participle) (circled past tense & past participle )
1 n-count A circle is a shape consisting of a curved line completely surrounding an area. Every part of the line is the same distance from the centre of the area.
(=ring)
The flag was red, with a large white circle in the center..., I wrote down the number 46 and drew a circle around it.
2 n-count A circleof something is a round flat piece or area of it.
usu N of n
(=ring)
Cut out 4 circles of pastry., ...a circle of yellow light.
3 n-count A circleof objects or people is a group of them arranged in the shape of a circle.
oft N of n
(=ring)
The monument consists of a circle of gigantic stones..., We stood in a circle holding hands.
4 verb If something circles an object or a place, or circlesaround it, it forms a circle around it.
(=encircle)
This is the ring road that circles the city. V n
...the long curving driveway that circled around the vast clipped lawn. V around/round n
5 verb If an aircraft or a bird circles or circles something, it moves round in a circle in the air.
The plane circled, awaiting permission to land... V
There were two helicopters circling around. V adv/prep
...like a hawk circling prey. V n
6 verb To circlearound someone or something, or to circle them, means to move around them.
Emily kept circling around her mother... V around/round n
The silent wolves would track and circle them. V n
7 verb If you circle something on a piece of paper, you draw a circle around it.
(=ring)
Circle the correct answers on the coupon below. V n
8 n-count You can refer to a group of people as a circle when they meet each other regularly because they are friends or because they belong to the same profession or share the same interests.
with supp
He has a small circle of friends..., Alton has made himself fiercely unpopular in certain circles.
9 n-sing In a theatre or cinema, the circle is an area of seats on the upper floor.
the N
10
→
Arctic Circle
→
dress circle
→
inner circle
→
vicious circle
→
virtuous circle
11 If you say that you have come full circle or have turned full circle, you mean that after a long series of events or changes the same situation that you started with still exists.
come full circle/turn full circle phrase V inflects We've come full circle and dark-blue jeans are once again the height of style.
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is an imaginary line drawn around the northern part of the world at approximately 66° North. n-proper the N
charmed circle
If you refer to a group of people as a charmed circle, you mean that they seem to have special power or influence, and do not allow anyone else to join their group.
LITERARY n-sing
...the immense role played by this very small charmed circle of critics.
dress circle
Thedress circle is the lowest of the curved rows of seats upstairs in a theatre. n-sing
inner circle (inner circles plural )An inner circle is a small group of people within a larger group who have a lot of power, influence, or special information. n-count usu sing, oft N of n
...Mr Blair's inner circle of advisers.
quality circle (quality circles plural )A quality circle is a small group of workers and managers who meet to solve problems and improve the quality of the organization's products or services. (BUSINESS) n-count
Riddick's first move was to form a quality circle.
semi-circle (semi-circles plural ), semicircle A semi-circle is one half of a circle, or something having the shape of half a circle. n-count
They stood in a semi-circle round the teacher's chair and answered questions.
traffic circle (traffic circles plural )A traffic circle is a circular structure in the road at a place where several roads meet. You drive round it until you come to the road that you want.
(AM) n-count
in BRIT, use roundabout
vicious circle (vicious circles plural ), vicious cycle A vicious circle is a problem or difficult situation that has the effect of creating new problems which then cause the original problem or situation to occur again. n-count usu sing, oft N of n (Antonym: virtuous circle)
The more pesticides are used, the more resistant the insects become so the more pesticides have to be used. It's a vicious circle.
virtuous circle
If you describe a situation as a virtuous circle, you mean that once one good thing starts happening, other good things happen, which cause the first thing to continue happening. n-sing
(Antonym: vicious circle)
Exercise creates its own virtuous circle. Once you start a programme and do it regularly, you'll feel so good you'll want to continue., ...a virtuous circle of investment and growth.
