round

I UK [raʊnd] / US adverb, preposition British ***

Summary:

Round can be used in the following ways: - as a preposition (followed by a noun): We travelled round the country. - as an adverb (without a following noun): She turned round and ran back to the house.

1) used for showing movement

a) moving in a circular way

The children were dancing round in a circle.

round and round:

The bird flew round and round the room, unable to escape.

b) moving to many different parts or areas

He wandered round the town, looking in shop windows.

That dog used to follow me round everywhere.

There have been lots of stories going round, but I don't believe any of them.

c) moving so that you face in the opposite direction

Katharine spun round to face him.

The car stopped, turned round, and came back towards us.

I heard a voice behind me and looked round.

d) moving so that you can get to the opposite side of something

A number 26 bus was just coming round the corner into Station Road.

He walked round to the back of the building.

e) going by a road that is not the most direct way

round by:

We can go round by the shops on our way home and buy something for supper.

all round:

We had to go all round the town to get here.

f) informal going to visit someone's house

Why don't you invite him round for dinner?

I was just going round to see Lindsey about babysitting.

2) used for showing where someone or something is

a) surrounding or enclosing something

He tied one end of the rope round his waist.

There was a high brick wall round the garden.

The children crowded round to see what was happening.

b) in many different parts or areas

Books and papers were scattered round the room.

all round:

All round the country factories were closing.

c) in or close to a particular place or area

She loved the countryside round Oxford.

round here:

Do you live round here?

d) at someone's house

I'm not sure where he is, but he may be round at Patrick's.

We'll be round at nine o'clock in the morning.

3) when someone is searching for something

a) used for saying that someone looks in different places because they want to find something

She looked round the room for Leo, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Someone's been rummaging round in my office.

b) used for saying that someone asks many different people in order to find something

I've phoned round the local pubs and restaurants – they're all fully booked.

It's a good idea to shop round and compare prices.

4) not doing anything spending time in a place and not doing much

They spend all their time sitting round drinking coffee.

Why don't you find yourself something to do instead of just hanging round?

•

- all round

- round about

See:

about, lark about, circle I, corner I, time I, way I

II UK [raʊnd] / US adjective ***

1) shaped like a circle or a ball

Don't worry if the balls of dough aren't perfectly round.

A round table will seat more people than a square one.

Which hairstyles would look good with a round face like mine?

2) curved

The round arch is thought to belong to an earlier period.

3) not exact, but given as a whole number or as a number ending in zero

They quoted a round figure of £100 million.

4) complete and not less than a particular amount

a round dozen:

This goal brings his total for the season to a round dozen.

Derived word:
roundness
noun uncountable
III UK [raʊnd] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "round":
singular round plural rounds
***

1) [usually plural] a series of visits to different people or places that are made as part of someone's job

Both doctors were out on their rounds.

The bag was found by a postman on his morning delivery round.

a) one of a series of meetings

round of:

The next round of peace talks will be held in Rome.

The agreement came at the end of the third round of negotiations.

b) a game or a series of games in a competition

Sampras plays his first match in the second round on Wednesday.

round of:

Brazil beat the United States in the second round of the World Cup.

c) one of a series of elections

The opposition party is leading after the first round of the elections.

d) one of a series of short periods of fighting in a boxing or wrestling match

He knocked out his opponent in the fourth round.

2) a bullet or a shot that is fired from a weapon

Those guns are capable of firing 1,250 rounds per minute.

He had a handgun and several rounds of live ammunition.

3) a complete game of golf

He likes nothing more than to play a round of golf.

4) a drink for each of the people in a group

Tom went to the bar to order another round of drinks.

It's my round (= I will buy the drinks).

5)

a) a slice of bread or other food

Just do me a boiled egg and a round of toast.

He prepared cucumber rounds covered with cream cheese.

b) British a sandwich or sandwiches made from two slices of bread

She's made three rounds of sandwiches just for me.

•

do/make the rounds — to be passed from one person to another; to go from one person or place to another

There is a rumour doing the rounds that he has been sacked.

do/make the rounds of:

I did the rounds of all the talk shows yesterday.

- in the round

- a round of applause

IV UK [raʊnd] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "round":
present tense I/you/we/they round he/she/it rounds present participle rounding past tense rounded past participle rounded
**

1) to go round something

The van had just rounded the corner when it was hit by a lorry.

As they rounded the bend, the house came into view.

2) to make something round or curved

You have to round your lips to blow into the flute.

Phrasal verbs:

- round down

- round off

- round on

- round out

- round up