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Dictionary
Index A
around: Meaning and Definition of
Find definitions for:
a•round
Pronunciation:
(
u
-round'),
[key]
— adv.
in a circle, ring, or the like; so as to surround a person, group, thing, etc.:
The crowd gathered around.
on all sides; about:
His land is fenced all around.
in all directions from a center or point of reference:
He owns the land for miles around.
in a region or area neighboring a place:
all the country around.
in circumference:
The tree was 40 inches around.
in a circular or rounded course:
to fly around and around.
through a sequence or series, as of places or persons:
to show someone around.
through a recurring period, as of time, esp. to the present or a particular time:
when spring rolls around again.
by a circuitous or roundabout course:
The driveway to the house goes around past the stables.
to a place or point, as by a circuit or circuitous course:
to get around into the navigable channel.
with a rotating course or movement:
The wheels turned around.
in or to another or opposite direction, course, opinion, etc.:
Sit still and don't turn around. After our arguments, she finally came around.
back into consciousness:
The smelling salts brought her around.
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?
somewhere near or about; nearby:
I'll be around if you need me.
to a specific place:
He came around to see me.
having had much worldly experience:
He's been around and isn't likely to be taken in.
—prep.
about; on all sides; encircling; encompassing:
a halo around his head.
so as to encircle, surround, or envelop:
to tie paper around a package.
on the edge, border, or outer part of:
a skirt with fringe around the bottom.
from place to place in; about:
to get around town.
in all or various directions from:
to look around one.
in the vicinity of:
the country around Boston.
approximately; about:
It's around five o'clock.
here and there in:
There are many cafés around the city.
somewhere in or near:
to stay around the house.
to all or various parts of:
to wander around the country.
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.
reached by making a turn or partial circuit about:
the church around the corner.
so as to revolve or rotate about a center or axis:
the earth's motion around its axis.
personally close to:
Only the few advisers around the party leader understood his real motives.
so as to get by a difficulty:
They got around the lack of chairs by sitting on the floor.
so as to have a foundation in:
The novel is built around a little-known historical event.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary,
Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also:
around
(Thesaurus)
arose
around-the-clock
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