ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ at hemi- +ˌsīkəl noun
Etymology: French hémicycle, modification of Latin hemicyclium, from Greek hēmikyklion, from hēmi- hemi- (I) + kyklos circle + -ion -ium — more at cycle
1. : a half circle : semicircle
2. : a curved or approximately semicircular structure or arrangement (as in an arena) : a curving or semicircular form (as of a driveway)
a simple hemicycle containing the altar — W.K.Sturges
the hemicycle of our modern civilization, the horseshoe area where nomadic man first settled down to tend crops — National Geographic