Meaning of circle In English

• 0 a continuous curved line, the points of which are always the same distance away from a fixed central point, or the area inside such a line:

  • Coloured paper was cut into circles.

  • We sat in a circle.

• 1 a group of people with family, work, or social connections:

  • The subject was never discussed outside the family circle.

  • She's not one of my close circle of friends.

  • We never meet these days - we move in different circles (= do not have the same group of friends).

• 2 an upper floor in a theatre or cinema where people sit to watch the performance:

  • Shall I get seats in the circle or in the stalls?

• 3 to move in a circle, often around something:

  • The plane circled for an hour before receiving permission to land.

  • Security staff circled the grounds of the house with guard dogs every hour.

  • Circle the answer you think is correct.

  • Local teenagers would circle their cars out in cotton fields, play the radio loud, and dance.

  • When a pioneers' wagon train was attacked they circled their wagons to defend themselves.

• 4 a continuous curved line which is always the same distance away from a fixed central point, or the area enclosed by such a line:

  • Colored paper was cut into circles, squares, and triangles.

  • A circle of chairs had been arranged in the center of the room.

• 5 a group of people who are connected by family, work, or society, or who share an interest:

  • There’s a small circle of people who sell and exhibit their work at the same shows.

  • The mayor’s inner circle met with him throughout the crisis to give advice.

• 6 fig. If you circle around a subject, you talk about things related to it, often to avoid talking about the subject itself:

  • [ I ] He circled around the idea of paying authors more for their books.