circle

I UK [ˈsɜː(r)k(ə)l] / US [ˈsɜrk(ə)l] noun [countable]
Word forms "circle":
singular circle plural circles
***

1)

a) a round shape consisting of a curved line that completely encloses a space and is the same distance from the centre at every point. Something in the shape of a circle is circular

a mathematical calculation to find out the radius of a circle

circle of:

Cut out a circle of paper.

b) a group of people or things arranged in a circle

circle of:

a circle of stones

in a circle:

The dancers were standing in a circle around the fire.

form a circle:

Now I'd like you to form a circle and hold hands.

2)

a) a group of people who know one another or are related to one another

circle of:

They have a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

a social circle:

I soon became a member of her social circle.

family circle:

He now felt he was a member of the family circle.

b) [usually plural] a group of people who are interested in the same things or who have the same profession

scientific/academic/literary circles:

He began to move in the scientific circles centred round Sir Charles Cavendish.

political/financial/business circles:

The bank's failure sent shock waves through international financial circles.

•

Collocations:
Nouns frequently used with circle
▪  acquaintances, admirers, advisers, friends

come/go/turn full circle — if a situation comes, goes, or turns full circle, it becomes the same again as it was at the beginning

He's back managing the club he first started out in, so his career has come full circle.

go around/round in circles — to do something for a long time without achieving any results because you always return to the same problem that you cannot solve

We talked for hours, but we were just going round in circles.

- the circle

See:

square III

II UK [ˈsɜː(r)k(ə)l] / US [ˈsɜrk(ə)l] verb
Word forms "circle":
present tense I/you/we/they circle he/she/it circles present participle circling past tense circled past participle circled
*

1)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to move in a circle in the air

Vultures circled in slow spirals above the camp.

The plane continued to circle the airport, waiting for permission to land.

b) to move in a circle on the ground

The dog circled him, barking.

circle around:

The two men began circling slowly around each other.

2) [transitive] to form a circle around something

Her arms circled his neck.

3) [transitive] to draw a circle around something

Someone had circled the next paragraph.

4) [intransitive/transitive] if people are circling, they are watching a situation and waiting for an opportunity to get something they want