- circle
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun1 shapeADJECTIVE▪ complete, full▪
The stones form a complete circle.
▪How long does it take for the dial to rotate through a full circle?
▪ concentric▪ widening▪The water rippled in widening circles around the fountain.
▪ overlapping▪a design of overlapping circles
▪ tight▪He turned the car in a tight circle.
▪ half▪ Antarctic, Arctic, polarVERB + CIRCLE▪ draw, trace▪ describe (technical), go around in, go round in (esp. BrE)▪If you follow the signs you find yourself going around in a circle.
▪ form, make▪ cut outPREPOSITION▪ in a/the circle▪The children stood in a circle.
▪The planets move in circles around the sun.
▪ circle ofPHRASES▪ the area of a circle, the circumference of a circle, the diameter of a circle, the radius of a circle▪ the centre/center of a circle, the middle of a circle2 group of peopleADJECTIVE▪ wide▪She has a wide circle of acquaintances.
▪ narrow, small▪ charmed, close, closed, elite, intimate, magic, select▪He invited only a select circle of friends to the wedding.
▪ exalted, high▪ immediate▪They treat anyone outside their immediate circle with suspicion.
▪ inner▪He's joined the inner circles of the court early in his career.
▪ academic, aristocratic, artistic, business, court, diplomatic, government, intellectual, literary, official, political, royal, scientific, social, theatrical circles▪She moves in the highest social circles.
▪ familyVERB + CIRCLE▪ have▪ move in▪My brother and I move in completely different circles (= we have very different friends).
▪ join▪ expand, widen▪You need to widen your circle of friends.
PREPOSITION▪ in a/the circle▪Talk of religion was forbidden in the family circle.
▪friends in government circles
PHRASES▪ a circle of acquaintances, a circle of admirers, a circle of friends3 (BrE) rows of seats in a theatre/theaterADJECTIVE▪ dress, upper▪{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}My seat is in the front row of the dress circle.
verb1 move in a circleADVERB▪ slowly▪The helicopter was circling slowly, very low.
▪ overhead▪A buzzard was circling overhead.
PREPOSITION▪ above▪Several planes were circling above the airport.
▪ around, round (esp. BrE)▪The vultures were already circling around the dead animal.
2 draw a circle around sthPHRASES▪ circle sth in black, red, etc.▪She circled her birthday in red on the calendar.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
