AROUND


Meaning of AROUND in English

I. əˈrau̇nd adverb

Etymology: Middle English, probably from a- (I) + round, n.

1.

a. : in a circle or in circumference : round

the wheel kept going around

the track is a mile around

b. : in a course making a circle or part of a circle

waltz your partner around again

the wind has gone around to the south

c. : by a circuitous route : in a roundabout way

the road goes around by the lake

2.

a. : on every side : in all or various directions from a fixed point

the water of this well is famous for miles around

b. : in close from all sides so as to surround, confine, or envelop : close about

the old house is hemmed around by new apartments

people crowded around to look at the wreck

c. : in or near one's present situation

you have time to stay around a while

3.

a. : here and there at random : at, in, or to various places : from one place to another : all about

for a year he traveled around from state to state

the news soon got around

b. : to a particular place either specified or understood

invited him to come around for supper

c. : into a situation permitting doing or attending — used with to

it was a long time before he got around to reading the book

we'll get around to the work in the morning

4.

a. : in rotation or succession : in turn

another winter has come around

he passed the candy around to his guests

b. : from beginning to end : through

the region has a mild climate the year around

c. : in order

the other way around

d. : to a customary condition (as of health or consciousness) : to an improved state

medicines that will bring the invalids around

5. : somewhere close by : in the vicinity or neighborhood : nearby

all he could do was stand around and wait

6.

a. : in the reverse or opposite direction : to the rear

suddenly he turned around

b. : from one opinion, belief, or point of view to another : to an altogether different position or attitude

the public's reaction soon brought the legislators around

7. : in the neighborhood of : approximately , about

the book runs to around 500 pages

he comes at around the same time every day

- been around

II. preposition

Etymology: Middle English, from around, adverb

1.

a. : along the outer edge or boundary of : on all sides of

a neat yard with a fence around it

: so as to encircle or enclose : about

threw her arm around his neck

several people seated around the table

b. : so as to make the circuit of

around the world in 80 days

or partial circuit of

a voyage around Cape Horn

: so as to follow the curving course of

coming around the bend of the river

c. : so as to avoid or get past

leaping over fences and dodging around boulders

2.

a. : in the neighborhood of : near

the fields around the village

: in the same region with

the country around the source of the Nile

b. : close to

only the men around the president knew of his illness

3.

a. : in all directions outward from

stood looking around him

b. : so as to have a center or basis in

primitive societies which are organized around kinship ties — Weston La Barre

4.

a. : here and there at random in or throughout : about , over

constantly traveling around the country

b. : from one part to another of

wandering restlessly around the house

III. adjective

Etymology: around (I)

1. : going or moving about : astir

he has been up and around for two days

2. : in existence : alive , living , present

one of the most alertly intelligent of the artists around today — R.M.Coates

the troubles arising out of lack of money have been around for a long time — Murray Illson

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.