n.
- a round plane figure whose boundary consists of points equidistant from the centre.
▸a group of people or things forming a circle.
- a curved upper tier of seats in a theatre.
- a group of people with a shared profession, interests, or acquaintances.
v.
move or be situated all the way around.
▸draw a line around.
Phrase
- circle the wagons
N. Amer. informal unite in defence of something.
[with ref. to the defensive position of a wagon train under attack.]
- come
(or turn)
full circle
return to a past position or situation. - go
(or run)
round in circles
informal do something for a long time without achieving anything.
Etymology
OE, from OFr. cercle, from L. circulus ‘small ring’, dimin. of circus ‘ring’.