/ ˈsɜːkl; NAmE ˈsɜːrkl/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a completely round flat shape :
Cut out two circles of paper.
—picture at conic section
—see also semicircle
2.
the line that forms the edge of a circle :
Draw a circle.
She walked the horse round in a circle .
—see also Antarctic Circle , Arctic Circle , turning circle
3.
a thing or a group of people or things shaped like a circle :
a circle of trees / chairs
The children stood in a circle.
—see also corn circle , crop circle
4.
( BrE ) (also bal·cony NAmE , BrE ) an upper floor of a theatre or cinema / movie theater where the seats are arranged in curved rows :
We had seats in the circle.
—see also dress circle
5.
a group of people who are connected because they have the same interests, jobs, etc. :
the family circle
She's well known in theatrical circles.
a large circle of friends
—see also charmed circle , inner circle , vicious circle
•
IDIOMS
- come, turn, etc. full circle
- go round in circles
- run round in circles
■ verb
1.
circle (around) (above / over sb/sth) to move in a circle, especially in the air :
[ v ]
Seagulls circled around above his head.
[ vn ]
The plane circled the airport to burn up excess fuel.
2.
[ vn ] to draw a circle around sth :
Spelling mistakes are circled in red ink.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English , from Old French cercle , from Latin circulus small ring, diminutive of circus ring.