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Around

 - 4 dictionary results

a⋅round

  [uh-round]
Use Around in a Sentence
–adverb
1. in a circle, ring, or the like; so as to surround a person, group, thing, etc.: The crowd gathered around.
2. on all sides; about: His land is fenced all around.
3. in all directions from a center or point of reference: He owns the land for miles around.
4. in a region or area neighboring a place: all the country around.
5. in circumference: The tree was 40 inches around.
6. in a circular or rounded course: to fly around and around.
7. through a sequence or series, as of places or persons: to show someone around.
8. through a recurring period, as of time, esp. to the present or a particular time: when spring rolls around again.
9. by a circuitous or roundabout course: The driveway to the house goes around past the stables.
10. to a place or point, as by a circuit or circuitous course: to get around into the navigable channel.
11. with a rotating course or movement: The wheels turned around.
12. in or to another or opposite direction, course, opinion, etc.: Sit still and don't turn around. After our arguments, she finally came around.
13. back into consciousness: The smelling salts brought her around.
14. in circulation, action, etc.; about: He hasn't been around lately. The play has been around for years. When will she be up and around?
15. somewhere near or about; nearby: I'll be around if you need me.
16. to a specific place: He came around to see me.
–preposition
17. about; on all sides; encircling; encompassing: a halo around his head.
18. so as to encircle, surround, or envelop: to tie paper around a package.
19. on the edge, border, or outer part of: a skirt with fringe around the bottom.
20. from place to place in; about: to get around town.
21. in all or various directions from: to look around one.
22. in the vicinity of: the country around Boston.
23. approximately; about: It's around five o'clock.
24. here and there in: There are many cafés around the city.
25. somewhere in or near: to stay around the house.
26. to all or various parts of: to wander around the country.
27. so as to make a circuit about or partial circuit to the other side of: to go around the lake; to sail around a cape.
28. reached by making a turn or partial circuit about: the church around the corner.
29. so as to revolve or rotate about a center or axis: the earth's motion around its axis.
30. personally close to: Only the few advisers around the party leader understood his real motives.
31. so as to get by a difficulty: They got around the lack of chairs by sitting on the floor.
32. so as to have a foundation in: The novel is built around a little-known historical event.
—Idiom
33. been around, having had much worldly experience: He's been around and isn't likely to be taken in.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME around(e). See a- 1 , round
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Around
a·round   (ə-round')   
adv.  

    1. On all sides: dirty clothes lying around.

    2. In close to all sides from all directions: a field bordered around with tall trees.

    3. To or among various places; here and there: wander around.

    4. To a specific place: Come around again sometime.

  2. In a circle or with a circular motion: spun around twice.

  3. In circumference or perimeter: a pond two miles around.

  4. In succession or rotation: passed the collection plate around; seasons that rolled around each year.

  5. In or toward the opposite direction or position: wheeled around to face the attacker.

    1. To or among various places; here and there: wander around.

    2. To a specific place: Come around again sometime.

  7. In or near one's current location: waited around for the next flight.

  8. From the beginning to the end: frigid weather the year around.

  9. Approximately; about: weighed around 30 pounds; around $1.3 billion in debt.

prep.  

  1. On all sides of: trees around the field.

  2. In such a position as to encircle or surround: a sash around the waist.

    1. Here and there within; throughout: on the political stump around the country.

    2. In the immediate vicinity of; near: She lives around Norfolk.

  4. On or to the farther side of: the house around the corner.

  5. So as to pass, bypass, or avoid: a way around an obstacle; got around the difficulty somehow.

  6. Approximately at: woke up around seven.

  7. In such a way as to have a basis or center in: an economy focused around farming and light industry.

adj.  

  1. Being in existence: Our old dog is no longer around.

  2. Being in evidence; present: asked if the store manager was around.


[Middle English : probably a-, in; see a-2 + round, circle; see round1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

around 
c.1300, from phrase on round. Rare before 1600. In sense of "here and there with no fixed direction" it is 1776, Amer.Eng. (properly about). Of time, from 1888. To have been around "gained worldly experience" is from 1927, U.S. colloquial.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

around

In addition to the idioms beginning with around, also see beat about (around) the bush; been around; boss someone around; bring around; cast about (around); come around; enough to go around; every time one turns around; fool around; fuck around; full circle (what goes around comes around); get around; get around to; go around in circles; hang around; horse around; kick around; kid around; knock about (around); know one's way around; mess around; nose about (around); pal around with; play around; poke around; push around; rally around; roll around; run around in circles; run around like a chicken; run around with; run rings around; screw around; scrounge around; shop around; sleep around; stick around; talk around; tear around; throw one's weight around; turn around; twist around one's finger; up and about (around). Also see under round.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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