around
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1around
adverb \ə-ˈrau̇nd\Definition of AROUND
1
a : in a circle or in circumference <the wheel goes around> <a tree five feet around> b : in, along, or through a circuit <the road goes around by the lake>
2
a : on all or various sides : in every or any direction <papers lying around> <nothing for miles around> b : in close from all sides so as to surround <people crowded around> c : in or near one's present place or situation <wait around awhile>
3
a : here and there : from one place to another <travels around on business> b : to a particular place <come around for dinner> c —used with some verbs to indicate repeated or continued action <always joking around when he should be serious> <don't play around with your food>
4
a : in rotation or succession <another winter comes around> b : from beginning to end : through <mild the year around> c : in order <the other way around>
5
: in or to an opposite direction or position <turn around>
6
: with some approach to exactness : approximately <cost around $5>
See Examples of AROUND
- Don't take the long way around: I know a shortcut.
- He entered the room and looked around.
- This is a very interesting town: let me show you around.
- I'm not sure where it is, but it must be around somewhere.
- It's safer when there are other people around.
- I'd like to speak to him if he's around.
Origin of AROUND
Middle English, from 1a- + 2round
First Known Use: 14th century
Rhymes with AROUND
abound, aground, astound, background, bloodhound, boozehound, brassbound, break ground, campground, chowhound, clothbound, come round, compound, confound, coonhound, deerhound, deskbound, dumbfound, earthbound, eastbound, elkhound, expound, fairground, fogbound, foot-pound, foreground, foxhound, gain ground, go-round, greyhound, half-bound, hardbound, hellhound, hidebound, high ground, homebound, horehound, housebound, icebound, impound, inbound, ironbound, lose ground, newfound, newshound, northbound, outbound, playground, pot-bound, profound, propound, rebound, redound, renowned, resound, rockbound, rock hound, scent hound, sight hound, sleuthhound, smooth hound, snowbound, softbound, southbound, spellbound, staghound, stone-ground, stormbound, strikebound, surround, to ground, top round, unbound, unround, unsound, well-found, westbound, wolfhound, year-round
2around
prepositionDefinition of AROUND
1
a : on all sides of b : so as to encircle or enclose <seated around the table> c : so as to avoid or get past : on or to another side of <find a way around their objections> <went around the lake> <around the corner> d : near <lives around Chicago> <around the turn of the century>
2
: in all directions outward from <look around you>
3
: here and there in or throughout <barnstorming around the country>
4
: so as to have a center or basis in <a society organized around kinship ties>
Examples of AROUND
- The people were seated around the table.
- A crowd gathered around him.
- He tied the rope around his waist.
- We went all around the lake enjoying the different views.
- They sailed around the world.
- He's a well-known figure around the town.
- We drove all around the town looking for him.
- This is a very interesting town: let me show you around it.
- We took a tour around New England.
- You can find lots of good restaurants around here.
First Known Use of AROUND
14th century
3around
adjectiveDefinition of AROUND
1
: about 1 <has been up and around for two days>
2
: being in existence, evidence, or circulation <the most intelligent of the artists around today — R. M. Coates>
— been around
: gone through many varied experiences : become worldly-wise
Examples of AROUND
- <she's generally regarded as one of the most talented singers around>
First Known Use of AROUND
1849
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