Around definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

about, backward, round, back, over, throughout, existing, extant, living, almost, approximate, approximately

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Around - 6 dictionary results

a⋅round

[uh-round]

–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 (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : Around

Spanish:

alrededor de,

German:

um…herum,

Japanese:

～の回りに

View 30 other languages »

a·round (ə-round') Pronunciation Key
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.
In a circle or with a circular motion: spun around twice.
In circumference or perimeter: a pond two miles around.
In succession or rotation: passed the collection plate around; seasons that rolled around each year.
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.
In or near one's current location: waited around for the next flight.
From the beginning to the end: frigid weather the year around.
Approximately; about: weighed around 30 pounds; around $1.3 billion in debt.

prep.

On all sides of: trees around the field.
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.
On or to the farther side of: the house around the corner.
So as to pass, bypass, or avoid: a way around an obstacle; got around the difficulty somehow.
Approximately at: woke up around seven.
In such a way as to have a basis or center in: an economy focused around farming and light industry.

adj.

Being in existence: Our old dog is no longer around.
Being in evidence; present: asked if the store manager was around.

[Middle English : probably a-, in; see a-² + round, circle; see round¹.]

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.

around
adverb
1.	in the area or vicinity; "a few spectators standing about"; "hanging around"; "waited around for the next flight" [syn: about]
2.	by a circular or circuitous route; "He came all the way around the base"; "the road goes around the pond"
3.	used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction; "wandering about with no place to go"; "people were rushing about"; "news gets around (or about)"; "traveled around in Asia"; "he needs advice from someone who's been around"; "she sleeps around" [syn: about]
4.	in a circle or circular motion; "The wheels are spinning around"
5.	(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I've had about all I can stand"; "we meet about once a month"; "some forty people came"; "weighs around a hundred pounds"; "roughly $3,000"; "holds 3 gallons, more or less"; "20 or so people were at the party" [syn: approximately]
6.	in or to a reversed position or direction; "about face"; "suddenly she turned around" [syn: about]
7.	to a particular destination either specified or understood; "she came around to see me"; "I invited them around for supper"
8.	all around or on all sides; "dirty clothes lying around (or about)"; "let's look about for help"; "There were trees growing all around"; "she looked around her" [syn: about]
9.	in circumference; "the trunk is ten feet around"; "the pond is two miles around"
10.	from beginning to end; throughout; "It rains all year round on Skye"; "frigid weather the year around" [syn: round]

Around

A*round"\, adv. [Pref. a- + round.]

1. In a circle; circularly; on every side; round.

2. In a circuit; here and there within the surrounding space; all about; as, to travel around from town to town.

3. Near; in the neighborhood; as, this man was standing around when the fight took place. [Colloq. U. S.]

Note: See Round, the shorter form, adv. & prep., which, in some of the meanings, is more commonly used.

Around

A*round"\, prep. 1. On all sides of; encircling; encompassing; so as to make the circuit of; about.

A lambent flame arose, which gently spread Around his brows. --Dryden.

2. From one part to another of; at random through; about; on another side of; as, to travel around the country; a house standing around the corner. [Colloq. U. S.]

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