Search results for 'round':

round adj 1 shaped like, or approximately like, a circle or a ball. 2 not angular; with a curved outline. 3 said of a body or part of a body: curved and plump • a round face. 4 moving in or forming a circle. 5 said of numbers: complete and exact • a round dozen. 6 said of a number: without a fraction. 7 said of a number: approximate; without taking minor amounts into account. 8 said of a sum of money: considerable; substantial. 9 said of a character in a story or novel: fully and realistically developed. 10 plain-spoken; candid. 11 said of a vowel: pronounced with the lips forming a circle. 12 said of a sound: smooth; sonorous. 13 said of a pace: brisk; vigorous. adverb 1 in a circular direction or with a circular or revolving movement. 2 in or to the opposite direction, position or opinion • win someone round. 3 in, by or along a circuitous or indirect route. 4 on all sides so as to surround • gather round. 5 from one person to another successively • pass it round. 6 in rotation, so as to return to the starting point • wait until spring comes round. 7 from place to place • drive round for a while. 8 in circumference • measures six feet round. 9 to a particular place, especially someone's home • come round for supper. prep 1 on all sides of so as to surround or enclose. 2 so as to move or revolve around a centre or axis and return to the starting point • run round the field. 3 colloq having as a central point or basis • a story built round her experiences. 4 from place to place in • We went round the town shopping. 5 in all or various directions from somewhere; close to it. 6 so as to pass, or having passed, in a curved course • drive round the corner. noun 1 something round, and often flat, in shape. 2 a movement in a circle; b a complete revolution round a circuit or path. 3 a single slice of bread. 4 a sandwich, or two or more sandwiches, made from two slices of bread. 5 a cut of beef across the thigh-bone of an animal. 6 golf the playing of all 18 holes on a course in a single session. 7 one of a recurring series of events, actions, etc; a session • a round of talks. 8 a series of regular activities; a daily routine • the daily round. 9 a regular route followed, especially for the sale or delivery of goods • a milk round. 10 (usually rounds) a sequence of visits, usually a regular one, made by a doctor to patients, either in a hospital or their homes. 11 a stage in a competition • through to the second round. 12 a single turn by every member of a group of people playing a game, eg in a card game. 13 a single period of play, competition, etc in a group of such periods, eg in boxing, wrestling, etc. 14 a burst of applause or cheering. 15 a single bullet or charge of ammunition. 16 a number of drinks bought at the same time for all the members of a group. 17 music an unaccompanied song in which different people all sing the same part continuously but start, and therefore end, at different times. 18 a sequence in which each bell in a set or peal is rung once. verb (rounded, rounding) 1 a to make something round; b intrans to become round. 2 to go round something • The car rounded the corner. 3 to pronounce (a sound) with rounded lips. rounded adj 1 curved; not angular. 2 complete; fully developed. 3 said of a sound or vowel: pronounced with the lips rounded. 4 cookery said of measurements (usually of spoons in Britain and cups in N America): filled so as to be slightly more than level with the rim. rounder noun 1 someone or something that rounds. 2 in the game of rounders: a complete circuit. roundish adj. roundly adverb 1 a in a round way; b so as to be round. 2 frankly; bluntly. roundness noun. go or make the rounds said of news, information, etc: 1 to be passed round from person to person; to circulate. 2 to patrol. in the round 1 with all details shown or considered. 2 theat with the audience seated on at least three, and often four, sides of the stage. round about 1 on all sides; in a ring surrounding. 2 the other way about. 3 approximately • round about four o'clock. round the clock see round-the-clock.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: from French ront, from Latin rotundus, from rota a wheel.