circle
circle
Pronunciation
/ˈsɜːrkəl/.
First Syllable (/ˈsɜːr/):
/s/: voiceless alveolar sibilant
/ɜːr/: "bird" vowel, a vocalic r-colored vowel
Second Syllable (/kəl/):
/k/: voiceless velar stop
/əl/: syllabic "l" (a reduced vowel sound followed by a dark "l" sound)
Word Form Variations
Noun forms:
Singular: circle (e.g., "Draw a circle.")
Plural: circles (e.g., "The children drew many circles.")
Verb forms:
Base form: circle (e.g., "They often circle the block.")
Third-person singular present: circles (e.g., "The plane circles above the airport.")
Past tense: circled (e.g., "He circled the answer.")
Present participle: circling (e.g., "The birds are circling overhead.")
Past participle: circled (e.g., "The wagons were circled for defense.")
Related forms (less common or more specialized):
Adjective: circular (describing something that is in the shape of a circle, e.g., "a circular table")
Noun (person/thing that circles):circler (less common, but can refer to something that circles, like "a circler saw")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A perfect closed curve consisting of all points that are equidistant from a central point.
Synonyms: ring, hoop, disc (when referring to the flat area enclosed by the curve), loop, orbit (in a broader sense of a path)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for the geometric shape itself; one might consider shapes that lack circularity, like a square or triangle, but these are not true antonyms.)
A group of people sharing a common interest, profession, or social connection; an exclusive social group.
Synonyms: group, clique, set, coterie, club, association, gang (often with a negative connotation)
Antonyms: outsider, stranger, individual (when emphasizing isolation)
A continuous cycle or sequence of events that regularly repeats.
Synonyms: cycle, circuit, revolution, loop, sequence, routine
Antonyms: linear progression, beginning, end, discontinuity, break
A stadium section or performance area, especially one designed for a circular view.
Synonyms: arena, stadium, amphitheater, ring (in a boxing sense)
Antonyms: (Not applicable for a specific architectural feature.)
Verb
To move in a circular path around something or someone.
Synonyms: orbit, revolve, rotate, loop, go around, encompass
Antonyms: deviate, go straight, bypass, leave
To draw a circle around something; to mark or enclose with a circle.
Synonyms: encircle, ring, enclose, circumscribe, mark
Antonyms: erase, unmark, uncircle (less common but understandable)
To form a circle around; to surround or encompass.
Synonyms: surround, enclose, encompass, ring, cordon (off), beleaguer (often in a military context)
Antonyms: disperse, scatter, separate, open (up)
Adjective (as "circular" - a direct derivative)
Having the form of a circle; round.
Synonyms: round, spherical, orbicular, rounded
Antonyms: square, rectangular, angular, linear, straight
Relating to a circuit or cycle; involving movement in a continuous loop.
Synonyms: cyclical, repetitive, recurring, circuitous
Antonyms: linear, direct, sequential, progressive
Examples of Use
Books:
"Bilbo Baggins was a very well-to-do hobbit, and never in his life did he leave the circle of his comfortable shire." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit) - Noun, referring to a metaphorical boundary or immediate surroundings.
"The detective circled the crime scene slowly, his eyes scanning for any overlooked detail." (Generic detective novel example) - Verb, indicating movement in a circular path.
"He felt as though he had come full circle, returning to the very same ideas he had dismissed years ago." (Generic philosophical text example) - Noun, part of the idiom "come full circle," referring to a return to an original state.
Newspapers:
"The city council held a special meeting to discuss the proposed bypass that would circle the historic downtown area." (Local newspaper article, e.g., The Daily Gazette) - Verb, meaning to surround or form a boundary around.
"Environmental activists formed a human circle around the ancient tree in protest of its felling." (The Guardian, headline or article body) - Noun, referring to a group of people arranged in a circular formation.
"Economists warned of a vicious circle of rising inflation and stagnant wages." (The Wall Street Journal, financial analysis) - Noun, referring to a self-perpetuating negative cycle.
Online Publications:
"A small but influential circle of tech billionaires gathered for a private summit on artificial intelligence." (Wired.com, tech news article) - Noun, referring to an exclusive social group.
"How to draw a perfect circle in Adobe Illustrator: A step-by-step guide for beginners." (Creative Bloq, design tutorial) - Noun, referring to the geometric shape.
"The algorithm continually circles back to the most popular content, creating an echo chamber effect." (Medium.com, essay on social media) - Verb, meaning to return to or focus on repeatedly.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Dialogue) "We need to circle the wagons, prepare for anything." (Stagecoach or similar Western film) - Verb, part of the idiom "circle the wagons," meaning to prepare for defense.
Television Series: "In the show, the characters often find themselves caught in a circle of betrayal and revenge." (Description of a drama series on Netflix/HBO Max) - Noun, referring to a repeating negative cycle.
Video Game: "Players must navigate a treacherous path, avoiding enemies that circle their position." (Instruction or description in a fantasy RPG, e.g., Elden Ring) - Verb, indicating enemies moving around the player.
Music: "The song's chorus talks about the sun setting and the moon rising, completing the day's circle." (Lyrics from a folk song) - Noun, referring to a cycle or passage of time.
Social Media: (Instagram caption with a photo of friends) "My inner circle – wouldn't trade them for anything!" (Personal post) - Noun, referring to a close group of friends/confidantes.
General Public Discourse:
"Let's circle back to that point in our next meeting." (Common phrase in a business or academic discussion) - Verb, meaning to revisit a topic.
"Please circle the correct answer on the exam." (Teacher's instruction to students) - Verb, meaning to draw a circle around something.
"We gathered in a circle for the storytelling session." (Description of a group activity or meeting) - Noun, referring to a physical arrangement of people.
"He's moved in some very influential circles throughout his career." (Casual conversation about someone's social connections) - Noun, referring to a social group.
10 Famous Quotes Using Circle
"The first circle of the inferno is where the unbaptized dwell." (Dante Alighieri, Inferno)
"The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone." (Henrik Ibsen, often misquoted as "The strongest man is he who stands most in a circle.") - Metaphorical use related to the concept of being an outsider to a circle.
"Life is a full circle, with all its ups and downs, joy and sorrow, success and failure. The journey will eventually bring us back to where we started, making us wiser and more resilient." (Unknown, widely attributed)
"What goes around comes around." (Common idiom, implying a circle of cause and effect)
"A man's true wealth is the good he does in the world." (Kahlil Gibran, often related to the idea of a circle of giving and receiving) - Synonymous concept of circularity in action.
"The world is a circle without a beginning and without an end." (Native American Proverb)
"I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." (W.B. Yeats, often interpreted as an appeal to protect one's inner circle or vulnerable hopes) - Metaphorical connection to a protected space.
"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." (Mark Twain, less directly a "circle" quote but speaks to the idea of a focused circle of vision) - Metaphorical interpretation of "focus" as defining a circle of attention.
"The great virtue of circles is that they enable us to see ourselves as part of something larger." (Unknown, often found in discussions of community)
"And so the circle of life continues..." (Common phrase, particularly associated with The Lion King)
Etymology
The word "circle" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back to ancient languages.
In simple terms, "circle" comes from the Latin word "circulus." This Latin word literally meant "a small ring" or "a circular figure." It was actually a "diminutive" of an older Latin word, "circus," which meant "ring" or "circular course" (like a race track, which is where we get our word "circus" today!).
Going even further back, the Latin "circus" itself came from the Ancient Greek word "kirkos" or "kuklos," which also meant "ring" or "circle." These Greek words are thought to have come from a much older, reconstructed language called Proto-Indo-European (PIE). The proposed PIE root for these words is believed to be something like *"*(s)ker-" or "kwel-" which meant "to bend" or "to turn." This makes a lot of sense, as a circle is essentially a path that bends or turns back on itself.
So, the journey of "circle" goes like this:
Proto-Indo-European (ancient, reconstructed language) -> something like "*(s)ker-" or "*kwel-" (meaning "to bend" or "to turn")
Ancient Greek -> "kirkos" or "kuklos" (meaning "ring" or "circle")
Latin -> "circus" (meaning "ring," "circular course") -> "circulus" (meaning "small ring," "circular figure")
Old French -> "cercle"
Old English -> "circul" (from Latin) and "cercle" (from Old French)
Modern English -> "circle"
The first known uses of "circle" in English, as a noun referring to the geometric shape, can be found in the Old English period (before 1150 AD). So, for well over a thousand years, the core meaning of "circle" as a perfectly round plane figure has been a part of our language.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Circle
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "circle":
To go in circles: To make no progress; to repeatedly do the same unproductive thing.
To come full circle: To return to a starting point or original situation after a long journey or process.
To circle back: To return to a previous topic or task.
To circle the wagons: To prepare for a collective defense against an attack or difficult situation.
Inner circle: An exclusive group of close friends, advisors, or associates.
Vicious circle: A sequence of unfortunate events in which the response to one difficulty creates another, which then aggravates the first.
To run circles around someone: To be much better or faster than someone at a particular task.
To move in certain circles: To be part of a particular social or professional group.
To draw a circle around something: To mark something as important or to highlight it.
Beyond one's circle: Outside of one's usual social group, understanding, or influence.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of circle from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
