/ raʊnd; NAmE / adjective , adverb , preposition , noun , verb
■ adjective ( round·er , round·est )
1.
shaped like a circle or a ball :
a round plate
These glasses suit people with round faces.
The fruit are small and round.
Rugby isn't played with a round ball.
the discovery that the world is round
The child was watching it all with big round eyes (= showing interest) .
a T-shirt with a round neck
—see also round-eyed , round-table
2.
having a curved shape :
the round green hills of Donegal
round brackets (= in writing)
She had a small mouth and round pink cheeks.
3.
[ only before noun ] a round figure or amount is one that is given as a whole number, usually one ending in 0 or 5 :
Make it a round figure—say forty dollars.
Two thousand is a nice round number—put that down.
Well, in round figures (= not giving the exact figures) we've spent twenty thousand so far.
► round·ness noun [ U ]:
His face had lost its boyish roundness.
■ adverb ( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually around ) For the special uses of round in phrasal verbs, look at the verb entries. For example, the meaning of come round to sth is given in the phrasal verb section of the entry for come .
1.
moving in a circle :
Everybody joins hands and dances round.
How do you make the wheels go round?
The children were spinning round and round .
( figurative )
The thought kept going round and round in her head.
2.
measuring or marking the edge or outside of sth :
a young tree measuring only 18 inches round
They've built a high fence all round to keep intruders out.
3.
on all sides of sb/sth :
A large crowd had gathered round to watch.
4.
at various places in an area :
People stood round waiting for something to happen.
5.
in a circle or curve to face another way or the opposite way :
He turned the car round and drove back again.
She looked round at the sound of his voice.
6.
to the other side of sth :
We walked round to the back of the house.
The road's blocked—you'll have to drive the long way round .
7.
from one place, person, etc. to another :
They've moved all the furniture round.
He went round interviewing people about local traditions.
Pass the biscuits round.
Have we enough cups to go round ?
8.
( informal ) to or at a particular place, especially where sb lives :
I'll be round in an hour.
We've invited the Frasers round this evening.
➡ note at around
•
IDIOMS
- round about
—more at time
■ preposition ( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually around )
1.
in a circle :
the first woman to sail round the world
The earth moves round the sun.
2.
on, to or from the other side of sth :
Our house is round the next bend.
There she is, coming round the corner.
There must be a way round the problem.
3.
on all sides of sb/sth; surrounding sb/sth :
She put her arms round him.
He had a scarf round his neck.
They were all sitting round the table.
4.
in or to many parts of sth :
She looked all round the room.
5.
to fit in with particular people, ideas, etc. :
He has to organize his life round the kids.
➡ note at around
•
IDIOMS
- round here
■ noun
STAGE IN PROCESS
1.
a set of events which form part of a longer process :
the next round of peace talks
the final round of voting in the election
IN SPORT
2.
a stage in a sports competition :
the qualifying rounds of the National Championships
Hewitt was knocked out of the tournament in the third round.
3.
a stage in a boxing or wrestling match :
The fight only lasted five rounds.
4.
a complete game of golf ; a complete way around the course in some other sports, such as showjumping :
We played a round of golf.
the first horse to jump a clear round
REGULAR ACTIVITIES / ROUTE
5.
a regular series of activities :
the daily round of school life
Her life is one long round of parties and fun.
6.
a regular route that sb takes when delivering or collecting sth; a regular series of visits that sb makes :
Dr Green was on her daily ward rounds .
( BrE )
a postman on his delivery round
—see also milk round , paper round
DRINKS
7.
a number of drinks bought by one person for all the others in a group :
a round of drinks
It's my round (= it is my turn to pay for the next set of drinks) .
BREAD
8.
( BrE ) a whole slice of bread; sandwiches made from two whole slices of bread :
Who's for another round of toast?
two rounds of beef sandwiches
CIRCLE
9.
a round object or piece of sth :
Cut the pastry into rounds.
OF APPLAUSE / CHEERS
10.
~ of applause / cheers a short period during which people show their approval of sb/sth by clapping, etc. :
There was a great round of applause when the dance ended.
SHOT
11.
a single shot from a gun; a bullet for one shot :
They fired several rounds at the crowd.
We only have three rounds of ammunition left.
SONG
12.
( music ) a song for two or more voices in which each sings the same tune but starts at a different time
•
IDIOMS
- do / go the rounds (of sth)
- in the round
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] to go around a corner of a building, a bend in the road, etc. :
The boat rounded the tip of the island.
We rounded the bend at high speed.
2.
to make sth into a round shape; to form into a round shape :
[ vn ]
She rounded her lips and whistled.
[ v ]
His eyes rounded with horror.
3.
[ vn ] ~ sth (up / down) (to sth) to increase or decrease a number to the next highest or lowest whole number
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- round sth off (with sth)
- round on sb
- round sb/sth up
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from the Old French stem round- , from a variant of Latin rotundus rotund.