cir·cle   (sûr'kəl)    (click for larger image in new window) n.   A plane curve everywhere equidistant from a given fixed point, the center. A planar region bounded by a circle. Something, such as a ring, shaped like such a plane curve. A circular course, circuit, or orbit: a satellite's circle around the earth. A traffic circle. A curved section or tier of seats in a theater. A series or process that finishes at its starting point or continuously repeats itself; a cycle. A group of people sharing an interest, activity, or achievement: well-known in artistic circles. A territorial or administrative division, especially of a province, in some European countries. A sphere of influence or interest; domain. Logic A vicious circle. v.   cir·cled, cir·cling, cir·cles v.   tr. To make or form a circle around; enclose. See Synonyms at surround. To move in a circle around. v.   intr. To move in a circle. See Synonyms at turn. [Middle English cercle, from Old French, from Latin circulus, diminutive of circus, circle, from Greek kirkos, krikos; see sker-2 in Indo-European roots.] cir'cler (-klər) n.

Circle

Cir"cle\ (s[~e]r"k'l), n. [OE. cercle, F. cercle, fr. L. circulus (Whence also AS. circul), dim. of circus circle, akin to Gr. kri`kos, ki`rkos, circle, ring. Cf. Circus, Circum-.]

1. A plane figure, bounded by a single curve line called its circumference, every part of which is equally distant from a point within it, called the center.

2. The line that bounds such a figure; a circumference; a ring.

3. (Astron.) An instrument of observation, the graduated limb of which consists of an entire circle.

Note: When it is fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a mural circle; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y's, in the plane of the meridian, a meridian or transit circle; when involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, a reflecting circle; and when that of repeating an angle several times continuously along the graduated limb, a repeating circle.

4. A round body; a sphere; an orb.

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth. --Is. xi. 22.

5. Compass; circuit; inclosure.

In the circle of this forest. --Shak.

6. A company assembled, or conceived to assemble, about a central point of interest, or bound by a common tie; a class or division of society; a coterie; a set.

As his name gradually became known, the circle of his acquaintance widened. --Macaulay.

7. A circular group of persons; a ring.

8. A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.

Thus in a circle runs the peasant's pain. --Dryden.

9. (Logic) A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.

That heavy bodies descend by gravity; and, again, that gravity is a quality whereby a heavy body descends, is an impertinent circle and teaches nothing. --Glanvill.

10. Indirect form of words; circumlocution. [R.]

Has he given the lie, In circle, or oblique, or semicircle. --J. Fletcher.

11. A territorial division or district.

Note:

The Circles of the Holy Roman Empire, ten in number, were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet.

Azimuth circle. See under Azimuth.

Circle of altitude (Astron.), a circle parallel to the horizon, having its pole in the zenith; an almucantar.

Circle of curvature. See Osculating circle of a curve (Below).

Circle of declination. See under Declination.

Circle of latitude. (a) (Astron.) A great circle perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, passing through its poles. (b) (Spherical Projection) A small circle of the sphere whose plane is perpendicular to the axis.

Circles of longitude, lesser circles parallel to the ecliptic, diminishing as they recede from it.

Circle of perpetual apparition, at any given place, the boundary of that space around the elevated pole, within which the stars never set. Its distance from the pole is equal to the latitude of the place.

Circle of perpetual occultation, at any given place, the boundary of the space around the depressed pole, within which the stars never rise.

Circle of the sphere, a circle upon the surface of the sphere, called a great circle when its plane passes through the center of the sphere; in all other cases, a small circle.

Diurnal circle. See under Diurnal.

Dress circle, a gallery in a theater, generally the one containing the prominent and more expensive seats.

Druidical circles (Eng. Antiq.), a popular name for certain ancient inclosures formed by rude stones circularly arranged, as at Stonehenge, near Salisbury.

Family circle, a gallery in a theater, usually one containing inexpensive seats.

Horary circles (Dialing), the lines on dials which show the hours.

Osculating circle of a curve (Geom.), the circle which touches the curve at some point in the curve, and close to the point more nearly coincides with the curve than any other circle. This circle is used as a measure of the curvature of the curve at the point, and hence is called circle of curvature.

Pitch circle. See under Pitch.

Vertical circle, an azimuth circle.

Voltaic circle or circuit. See under Circuit.

To square the circle. See under Square.

Syn: Ring; circlet; compass; circuit; inclosure.

circle 

circle

A process used in finding interested buyers of a new security issue before determining the final price. A potential customer will be given a preliminary price (for example, the interest rate for a bond or the selling price for a stock) and will commit to a purchase if the issue is actually priced at the preliminary estimate. A different price permits the customer to back out or to get the first chance to buy the issue at the new price. Compare indication of interest.

Main Entry: cir·cle
Pronunciation: 's&r-k&l
Function: noun
1 a : a closed plane curve every point of which is equidistant from a fixedpoint within the curve b : the plane surface bounded by such a curve
2 : something (as an anatomical part) in the form of a circle or section of a circle circle> —see CIRCLE OF WILLIS

circle cir·cle (sûr'kəl)
n.

1. A ring-shaped structure or group of structures.
2. A line or process with every point equidistant from the center.

circle   (sûr'kəl)  Pronunciation Key  (click for larger image in new window) A closed curve whose points are all on the same plane and at the same distance from a fixed point (the center).

circle

see full circle; go around (in circles); run around (in circles); run rings (circles) around; vicious circle.