Also see definition of "circle" in Bible Study Dictionaries
Word Study
circle
CIDE DICTIONARY
circle, n. [OE. cercle, F. cercle, fr. L. circulus (Whence also AS. circul), dim. of circus circle, akin to Gr. kri`kos, ki`rkos, circle, ring. Cf. Circus, Circum-.].
- A plane figure, bounded by a single curve line called its
circumference , every part of which is equally distant from a point within it, called thecenter . [1913 Webster] - The line that bounds such a figure; a circumference; a ring. [1913 Webster]
- An instrument of observation, the graduated limb of which consists of an entire circle. [1913 Webster]" When it is 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, ameridian circle ortransit circle ; when involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, areflecting circle ; and when that of repeating an angle several times continuously along the graduated limb, arepeating circle ." [1913 Webster] - A round body; a sphere; an orb. [1913 Webster]"It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth." [1913 Webster]
- Compass; circuit; inclosure. [1913 Webster]"In the circle of this forest." [1913 Webster]
- A company assembled, or conceived to assemble, about a central point of interest, or bound by a common tie; a class or division of society; a coterie; a set. [1913 Webster]"As his name gradually became known, the circle of his acquaintance widened." [1913 Webster]
- A circular group of persons; a ring. [1913 Webster]
- A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself. [1913 Webster]"Thus in a circle runs the peasant's pain." [1913 Webster]
- A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning. [1913 Webster]"That heavy bodies descend by gravity; and, again, that gravity is a quality whereby a heavy body descends, is an impertinent circle and teaches nothing." [1913 Webster]
- Indirect form of words; circumlocution. [1913 Webster]"Has he given the lie,
In circle, or oblique, or semicircle." [1913 Webster] - A territorial division or district. [1913 Webster]"
The Circles of the Holy Roman Empire, ten in number, were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet." [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- Ring; circlet; compass; circuit; inclosure.
circle, v. t. [OE. cerclen, F. cercler, fr. L. circulare to make round. See Circle, n. , and cf. Circulate.].
- To move around; to revolve around. [1913 Webster]"Other planets circle other suns." [1913 Webster]
- To encompass, as by a circle; to surround; to inclose; to encircle. Prior. Pope. [1913 Webster]"Their heads are circled with a short turban." [1913 Webster]"So he lies, circled with evil." [1913 Webster]
circle, v. i.
To move circularly; to form a circle; to circulate. [1913 Webster]
"Thy name shall circle round the gaping through." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
circle, n. & v.
--n.
1 a a round plane figure whose circumference is everywhere equidistant from its centre. b the line enclosing a circle.
2 a roundish enclosure or structure.
3 a ring.
4 a curved upper tier of seats in a theatre etc. (dress circle).
5 a circular route.
6 Archaeol. a group of (usu. large embedded) stones arranged in a circle.
7 Hockey = striking-circle.
8 persons grouped round a centre of interest.
9 a set or class or restricted group (literary circles; not done in the best circles).
10 a period or cycle (the circle of the year).
11 (in full vicious circle) a an unbroken sequence of reciprocal cause and effect. b an action and reaction that intensify each other (cf. virtuous circle). c the fallacy of proving a proposition from another which depends on the first for its own proof.
--v.
1 intr. (often foll. by round, about) move in a circle.
2 tr. a revolve round. b form a circle round.
--n.
1 a a round plane figure whose circumference is everywhere equidistant from its centre. b the line enclosing a circle.
2 a roundish enclosure or structure.
3 a ring.
4 a curved upper tier of seats in a theatre etc. (dress circle).
5 a circular route.
6 Archaeol. a group of (usu. large embedded) stones arranged in a circle.
7 Hockey = striking-circle.
8 persons grouped round a centre of interest.
9 a set or class or restricted group (literary circles; not done in the best circles).
10 a period or cycle (the circle of the year).
11 (in full vicious circle) a an unbroken sequence of reciprocal cause and effect. b an action and reaction that intensify each other (cf. virtuous circle). c the fallacy of proving a proposition from another which depends on the first for its own proof.
--v.
1 intr. (often foll. by round, about) move in a circle.
2 tr. a revolve round. b form a circle round.
Idiom
circle back move in a wide loop towards the starting-point. come full circle return to the starting-point. go round in circles make no progress despite effort. great (or small) circle a circle on the surface of a sphere whose plane passes (or does not pass) through the sphere's centre. run round in circles colloq. be fussily busy with little result.
Derivative
circler n.
Etymology
ME f. OF cercle f. L circulus dimin. of circus ring
THESAURUS
circle
O, acquaintance, advance, alentours, alternate, ambience, ambit, anklet, annular muscle, annulus, anthelion, antisun, aphelion, apogee, arc, arena, areola, armlet, arsis, ascend, associates, astronomical longitude, aura, aureole, autumnal equinox, back, back up, bailiwick, band, bangle, be here again, beads, beat, begird, belt, belt in, bijou, border, borderland, borderlands, bout, bow, bracelet, breastpin, brooch, budge, bunch, cabal, cadre, camarilla, camp, catacaustic, catenary, caustic, celestial equator, celestial longitude, celestial meridian, cell, chain, change, change place, chaplet, charm, charmed circle, chatelaine, cincture, circuit, circuiteer, circulate, circumambiencies, circumambulate, circumference, circumjacencies, circummigrate, circumnavigate, circumrotate, circumscribe, circumstances, circumvent, circumvolute, circus, clan, class, climb, clique, close the circle, closed circle, colures, come again, come and go, come around, come full circle, come round, come round again, come up again, companions, company, compass, comrades, conchoid, context, cordon, corona, coronet, coterie, countersun, course, crank, crescent, crew, cronies, crook, crowd, crown, curl, curve, cycle, demesne, department, descend, describe a circle, diacaustic, diadem, diastole, dimensions, discus, disk, division, domain, dominion, downbeat, earring, ebb, ecliptic, elite, elite group, ellipse, encincture, encircle, enclose, encompass, engird, ensphere, entourage, environ, environing circumstances, environment, environs, equator, equinoctial, equinoctial circle, equinoctial colure, equinox, eternal return, extension, extent, fairy ring, fellowship, festoon, field, flank, flow, fob, fraternity, friends, full circle, galactic longitude, garland, gem, geocentric longitude, geodetic longitude, gestalt, get over, gird, girdle, girdle the globe, glory, go, go about, go around, go round, go sideways, go the round, great circle, group, gyrate, gyre, habitat, halo, heliocentric longitude, hem, hemisphere, hook, hoop, hyperbola, ingroup, inner circle, intermit, jewel, judicial circuit, junta, junto, jurisdiction, lap, lasso, length, lituus, locket, logical circle, longitude, loop, looplet, lot, lunar corona, lunar halo, magic circle, make a circuit, march, meridian, milieu, mob, mock moon, mock sun, moon dog, mount, move, move over, necklace, neighborhood, nimbus, noose, nose ring, orb, orbit, oscillate, outfit, outposts, outskirts, pale, parabola, paraselene, parhelic circle, parhelion, perigee, perihelion, perimeter, period, periphery, pin, pirouette, pivot, plunge, precinct, precincts, precious stone, progress, province, pulsate, pulse, purlieus, push, radius, rainbow, realm, reappear, recur, regress, reoccur, repeat, retrogress, return, revolution, revolve, rhinestone, ring, ringlet, rise, roll, roll around, rondelle, rotate, rotation, round, round trip, roundel, rounds, run, saucer, scope, screw, series, set, shift, sink, sinus, situation, skirt, small circle, soar, society, solar corona, solar halo, solstitial colure, spell, sphere, sphincter, spin, spiral, stickpin, stir, stone, stream, subside, suburbs, sun dog, surround, surroundings, swing, swivel, systole, thesis, tiara, torque, total environment, tour, tracery, trajectory, travel, turn, turn a pirouette, turn around, turn round, twine around, twist, undulate, upbeat, vernal equinox, vicinage, vicinity, vicious circle, walk, wamble, wampum, wane, we-group, wheel, wheel around, whirl, wind, wreath, wreathe, wreathe around, wristband, wristlet, zodiac, zoneROGET THESAURUS
circle
Party
N party, faction, side, denomination, communion, set, crew, band, horde, posse, phalanx, family, clan, team, tong, council, community, body, fellowship, sodality, solidarity, confraternity, familistere, familistery, brotherhood, sisterhood, knot, gang, clique, ring, circle, group, crowd, in-crowd, coterie, club, casino, machine, Tammany, Tammany Hall, corporation, corporate body, guild, establishment, company, copartnership, partnership, firm, house, joint concern, joint-stock company, cahoot, combine, trust, society, association, institute, institution, union, trades union, league, syndicate, alliance, Verein, Bund, Zollverein, combination, Turnverein, league offensive and defensive, alliance offensive and defensive, coalition, federation, confederation, confederacy, junto, cabal, camarilla, camorra, brigue, freemasonry, party spirit, Confederates, Conservatives, Democrats, Federalists, Federals, Freemason, Knight Templar, Kuklux, Kuklux Klan, KKK, Liberals, Luddites, Republicans, Socialists, Tories, Whigs staff, dramatis personae, in league, in partnership, in alliance, bonded together, banded together, linked, joined together, embattled, confederated, federative, joint, hand in hand, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, en masse, in the same boat.Region
N region, sphere, ground, soil, area, field, realm, hemisphere, quarter, district, beat, orb, circuit, circle, reservation, pale, compartment, department, clearing, (property) &c 780 (Government), 1 arena, precincts, enceinte, walk, march, patch, plot, parcel, inclosure, close, field, court, enclave, reserve, preserve, street, clime, climate, zone, meridian, latitude, biosphere, lithosphere, territorial, local, parochial, provincial, regional.Circularity
N circularity, roundness, rotundity, circle, circlet, ring, areola, hoop, roundlet, annulus, annulet, bracelet, armlet, ringlet, eye, loop, wheel, cycle, orb, orbit, rundle, zone, belt, cordon, band, contrate wheel, crown wheel, hub, nave, sash, girdle, cestus, cincture, baldric, fillet, fascia, wreath, garland, crown, corona, coronet, chaplet, snood, necklace, collar, noose, lasso, lassoo, ellipse, oval, ovule, ellipsoid, cycloid, epicycloid, epicycle, semicircle, quadrant, sextant, sector, sphere, round, rounded, circular, annular, orbicular, oval, ovate, elliptic, elliptical, egg-shaped, pear-shaped, cycloidal, spherical, I watched the little circles die.Also see definition of "circle" in Bible Study Dictionaries
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