I. ˈsər-kəl noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English cercle, from Anglo-French, from Latin circulus, diminutive of circus circle, circus, from or akin to Greek krikos, kirkos ring; akin to Old English hring ring — more at ring
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : ring , halo
b. : a closed plane curve every point of which is equidistant from a fixed point within the curve
c. : the plane surface bounded by such a curve
2. archaic : the orbit of a celestial body
3. : something in the form of a circle or section of a circle: as
a. : diadem
b. : an instrument of astronomical observation the graduated limb of which consists of an entire circle
c. : a balcony or tier of seats in a theater
d. : a circle formed on the surface of a sphere by the intersection of a plane that passes through it
circle of latitude
e. : rotary 2
4. : an area of action or influence : realm
5.
a. : cycle , round
the wheel has come full circle
b. : fallacious reasoning in which something to be demonstrated is covertly assumed
6. : a group of persons sharing a common interest or revolving about a common center
the sewing circle of her church
family circle
the gossip of court circle s
7. : a territorial or administrative division or district
8. : a curving side street
[
circle 1b: AB diameter; C center; CD, CA, CB radii; EKF arc on chord EF; EFKL (area) segment on chord EF; ACD (area) sector; GH secant; TPM tangent at point P; EKFBPDA circumference
]
II. verb
( cir·cled ; cir·cling -k(ə-)liŋ)
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : to enclose in or as if in a circle
2. : to move or revolve around
satellites circling the earth
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to move in or as if in a circle
b. : circulate
2. : to describe or extend in a circle
• cir·cler -k(ə-)lər noun