I. ə-ˈrau̇nd adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from a- (I) + round (II)
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : in a circle or in circumference
the wheel goes around
a tree five feet around
b. : in, along, or through a circuit
the road goes around by the lake
2.
a. : on all or various sides : in every or any direction
papers lying around
nothing for miles around
b. : in close from all sides so as to surround
people crowded around
c. : in or near one's present place or situation
wait around awhile
3.
a. : here and there : from one place to another
travels around on business
b. : to a particular place
come around for dinner
c. — used with some verbs to indicate repeated or continued action
always joking around when he should be serious
don't play around with your food
4.
a. : in rotation or succession
another winter comes around
b. : from beginning to end : through
mild the year around
c. : in order
the other way around
5. : in or to an opposite direction or position
turn around
6. : with some approach to exactness : approximately
cost around $5
II. preposition
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : on all sides of
b. : so as to encircle or enclose
seated around the table
c. : so as to avoid or get past : on or to another side of
find a way around their objections
went around the lake
around the corner
d. : near
lives around Chicago
around the turn of the century
2. : in all directions outward from
look around you
3. : here and there in or throughout
barnstorming around the country
4. : so as to have a center or basis in
a society organized around kinship ties
III. adjective
Date: 1849
1. : about 1
has been up and around for two days
2. : being in existence, evidence, or circulation
the most intelligent of the artists around today — R. M. Coates
•
- been around