circle

cir|cle¹ W2S2 [ˈsə:kəl US ˈsə:r-] n

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1¦(shape)¦

2¦(arranged in circle)¦

3¦(group of people)¦

4¦(theatre)¦

5 go/run around in circles

6 come/go full circle

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[Date: 1000-1100; : Old French; Origin: cercle, from Latin circulus, from circus; CIRCUS]

1.) ¦(SHAPE)¦

a completely round shape, like the letter O

▪ Draw a circle 10cm in diameter.

▪ Cut the pastry into circles.

2.) ¦(ARRANGED IN CIRCLE)¦

a group of people or things arranged in the shape of a circle

▪ The children stood round in a circle .

circle of

▪ a circle of chairs

3.) ¦(GROUP OF PEOPLE)¦

a group of people who know each other and meet regularly, or who have similar interests or jobs

circle of

▪ a circle of friends

political/legal/literary etc circles

▪ He's well-known in fashionable circles .

▪ Johnson was part of the president's inner circle (=the people who have the most influence) .

4.) ¦(THEATRE)¦

BrE the upper floor of a theatre, that has seats arranged in curved rows

American Equivalent: balcony

5.) go/run around in circles

to think or argue about something without deciding anything or making progress

6.) come/go full circle also turn full circle BrE

to end in the same situation in which you began, even though there have been changes in the time in between

▪ Sooner or later, fashion comes full circle.

→square the circle at ↑square³ (5)

→↑vicious circle

circle ²

circle² v

1.) [T]

to draw a circle around something

▪ Circle the correct answer.

2.) [I and T]

to move in the shape of a circle around something, especially in the air

▪ The plane circled the airport before landing.

circle round/above/over etc

▪ The pigeons circled above the terrace.