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circle.

A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center).

6 characters2 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/ˈsɜɹkəl/General-American/ˈsɜːkəl/Received-Pronunciation/ˈsɪɹkəl/Scotland
  1. A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center).

    The set of all points (x, y) such that (x − 1)² + y² = r² is a circle of radius r around the point (1, 0).
  2. A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center). A two-dimensional geometric figure, a disk, consisting of the set of all those points of a plane at a distance less than or equal to a fixed distance (radius) from a given point.

    colloquial
  3. A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center). The orbit of an astronomical body.

  4. A two-dimensional geometric figure, a line, consisting of the set of all those points in a plane that are equally distant from a given point (center). A circle of latitude.

    the 49th circle
    Antarctic Circle, Arctic Circle
  5. A state of moving as to follow a circle; a route that forms a circle.

    The troops spent ten minutes marching in circle.
    The children ran circles around the tree.
  6. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures.

    Children, please join hands and form a circle.
  7. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. Any thin three-dimensional equivalent of the geometric figures.

    Cut a circle out of that sheet of metal.
  8. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A curve that more or less forms part or all of a circle.

    The crank moves in a circle.
  9. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A line comprising two semicircles of 30 yards radius centred on the wickets joined by straight lines parallel to the pitch used to enforce field restrictions in a one-day match.

  10. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A magic circle.

  11. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A magic circle. A ritual circle that is cast three times deosil and closes three times widdershins either in the a3ir with a wand or literally with stones or other items used for worship.

  12. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A traffic circle or roundabout.

    Dundee · India · Philippines · South-Africa
  13. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A headband or diadem.

  14. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A road with a curve in it or that ends in a circle, e.g., a cul-de-sac.

    I live on Grover Circle.
  15. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A curved level of a balcony of seats in a theater.

  16. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. An instrument of observation, whose graduated limb consists of an entire circle. When fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a mural circle; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y's, in the plane of the meridian, a meridian or transit circle; when involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, a reflecting circle; and when that of repeating an angle several times continuously along the graduated limb, a repeating circle.

  17. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A campfire circle.

  18. Any shape, curve or arrangement of objects that approximates to or resembles the geometric figures. A circle dance.

  19. A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest.

    I need an in to start hanging out with that circle.
    literary circle
  20. A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest. The people who associate with and follow someone; one's inner circle.

    I don't trust anyone in his circle.
  21. A specific group of persons; especially one who shares a common interest. Synonym of doujin circle.

    Japanese
  22. A real or figurative cycle.

    the circle of the wheel
    We've come full circle.
  23. A real or figurative cycle. A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.

  24. A real or figurative cycle. A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.

  25. A real or figurative cycle. Indirect form of words; circumlocution.

    form-of · indirect
  26. A territorial division or district.

    the circles of Hell
    The ten Circles of the Holy Roman Empire were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet.
  27. A territorial division or district. An area near a concert set aside for aggressive moshing.

  28. A territorial division or district. An area of impact or possibility.

    broadly · figuratively
    within the circle of probability
    These are the duties within the morning shift's circle of responsibility.
  29. A territorial division or district. Compass; circuit; enclosure.

    obsolete
  30. A bagginess of the skin below the eyes from lack of sleep.

    in-plural
    After working all night, she had circles under her eyes.
  31. An event at which circling takes place.

Where this word comes from

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-der. Ancient Greek κίρκος (kírkos)bor. Latin circus Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -ulus Latin circulus Old French cerclebor. Middle English circle English circle From Middle English circle, cercle, from Old French cercle and Latin circulus, diminutive of Latin circus (“circle, circus”), from Ancient Greek κίρκος (kírkos, “circle, ring”), related to Old English hring (“ring”). Compare also Old English ċircul (“circle, zodiac”), which came from the same Latin source. By surface analysis, Latin circ(us) + -(u)le.

verb/ˈsɜɹkəl/General-American/ˈsɜːkəl/Received-Pronunciation/ˈsɪɹkəl/Scotland
  1. To travel around along a curved path; to orbit.

    transitive
    The wolves circled the herd of deer.
  2. To travel around along a curved path; to orbit. To surround; to encompass within a circle.

    transitive
    A high fence circles the enclosure.
    The lightbulb circled the patio in light.
  3. To place in a circle; to make a circle.

    transitive
    We circled stones around him.
  4. To place in a circle; to make a circle. To place or mark a circle around.

    transitive
    Circle the jobs that you are interested in applying for.
  5. To place in a circle; to make a circle. To smoke cannabis in a circle, passing the cannabis around from person to person.

    transitive
    We circled a joint that afternoon.
  6. To place in a circle; to make a circle. To take part in a magic circle.

    intransitive · transitive
    I circled with that group for three years.
  7. To place in a circle; to make a circle. To add someone to a circle on the social media site Google+.

    obsolete · transitive
  8. To travel in circles.

    intransitive
    Vultures circled overhead.
  9. To travel in circles. To move in a circle around a target in preparation for an attack.

    intransitive · transitive
    The shark circled the diver for several minutes.
  10. To travel in circles. To circulate.

    intransitive
    The rumor circled through the crowd.
  11. To travel in circles. to consider or negotiate an agreement.

    figuratively · intransitive · transitive
    A high-profile actor is circling the next Spielberg movie.
  12. To participate in a game of circling.

Where this word comes from

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-der. Ancient Greek κίρκος (kírkos)bor. Latin circus Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -ulus Latin circulus Old French cerclebor. Middle English circle English circle From Middle English circle, cercle, from Old French cercle and Latin circulus, diminutive of Latin circus (“circle, circus”), from Ancient Greek κίρκος (kírkos, “circle, ring”), related to Old English hring (“ring”). Compare also Old English ċircul (“circle, zodiac”), which came from the same Latin source. By surface analysis, Latin circ(us) + -(u)le.

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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.