First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1around
adverb \ə-ˈrau̇nd\
: in a circle
: in, along, or through a curving path
—used to indicate a measurement that is made along the outer surface of something circular
Full 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 around defined for English-language learners
See around defined for kids
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Origin of AROUND
Middle English, from 1a- + 2round
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
preposition
: on all sides of (something or someone)
: so as to circle or surround (something or someone) : moving so as to circle (something or someone)
: over or in different parts of (a place)
Full Definition 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>
See around defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of AROUND
14th century
3around
adjective
: existing or active
Full Definition 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
See around defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of AROUND
1849
AROUND Defined for Kids
1around
adverb \ə-ˈrau̇nd\
Definition of AROUND for Kids
1
: in circumference <The tree is five feet around.>
2
: in or along a curving course <The road goes around the lake.>
3
: on all sides <Papers were lying around.>
4
: nearby <Stay around a while.>
5
: in close so as to surround <People gathered around to see.>
6
: in many different directions or places <He likes to travel around from state to state.>
7
: to each in turn <Pass the candy around.>
8
: in an opposite direction <Turn around.>
9
: almost but not exactly : approximately <The price is around five dollars.>
2around
preposition
Definition of AROUND for Kids
1
: in a curving path along the outside boundary of <He walked around the house and peeked in the windows.>
2
: on every side of <A crowd gathered around the winner.>
3
: on or to another side of <around the corner>
4
: here and there in <She plans to travel around the country.>
5
: near in number, time, or amount <They left around three o'clock.>
6
: in the area near to <Fish are plentiful around the reefs.>
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