around
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around
- /əˈɹaʊnd/ Canada, US, UK
- /əˈɹuːnd/ Northumbria
- /əˈɹæɔnd/ Australia
- /əˈɹæʊnd/ New Zealand
Rhymes with -aʊnd
Where it comes from
From Middle English around, arounde, from a- (from Old English a- (“on, at”)) + Middle English round (“circle, round”) borrowed from French, equivalent to a- + round. Cognate with Scots aroond, aroon (“around”). Displaced earlier Middle English umbe, embe (“around”) (from Old English ymbe (“around”)).
preposition round · arownd · ron · 'round
- Forming a circle or closed curve containing (something). She wore a gold chain around her neck.
- Centred upon; surrounding; regarding. We could use some clarification around the new rules.
- Following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point. We walked around the football field.
- Following a path which curves near an object, with the object on the inside of the curve. The road took a brief detour around the large rock formation, then went straight on.
- Near; in the vicinity of; approximately. I left my keys somewhere around here.
- At or to various places within or throughout. The pages from the notebook were scattered around the room.
- So as to avoid something. Our product designs around the existing patents to avoid infringing them.
adjective round · arownd · ron · 'round
- Present in the vicinity. Is Clare around today?
- Alive; existing. The record store on Main Street? Yes, it's still around.
adverb round · arownd · ron · 'round
- So as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof. High above, vultures circled around.
- So as to surround or be near. Everybody please gather around.
- Nearly; approximately; about. Around a thousand people attended.
- From place to place. There are rumors going around that the company is bankrupt.
- From one state or condition to an opposite or very different one; with a metaphorical change in direction; bringing about awareness or agreement. The team wasn't doing well, but the new coach really turned things around.
- So as to partially or completely rotate; so as to face in the opposite direction. Turn around at the end of this street.
- Used with verbs to indicate repeated or continuous action, or in numerous locations or with numerous people. I asked around, and no-one really liked it.
- Used with certain verbs to suggest unproductive activity. sit around, mess around, loaf around
