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”)).
Meanings
(informal, not-comparable, predicative, with the verb "to be") Present in the vicinity.
Is Clare around today?
(informal, not-comparable, predicative, with the verb "to be") Alive; existing.
Turbines have been around for a long time—windmills and water wheels are early examples. The name comes from the Latin turbo, meaning vortex, and thus the defining property of a turbine is that a fluid or gas turns the blades of a rotor, which is attached to a shaft that can perform useful work. 2013 July-August, Lee S. Langston, “The Adaptable Gas Turbine”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name):
The record store on Main Street? Yes, it's still around.
"How is old Bob? I heard that his health is failing." "Oh, he's still around. He's feeling better now."
de es gibt X noch (alive, existent, or present) · ar مَوْجُود (alive, existent, or present) · fi mestoilla (alive, existent, or present) · sco roond (alive, existent, or present) · fi paikalla (alive, existent, or present) · fi olemassa (alive, existent, or present) · fi hengissä (alive, existent, or present) · cmn 活着 (alive, existent, or present)
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”)).
Meanings
Forming a circle or closed curve containing (something).
The jackals began to gather around the carcass.
She wore a gold chain around her neck.
I planted a row of lilies around the statue.
Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal. 2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:
There has been a lot of controversy around the handling of personal information.
We could use some clarification around the new rules.
The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives. And, as their ubiquity spreads, so too does the debate around whether we should allow ourselves to become so reliant on them – and who, if anyone, is policing their use. 2013 July 26, Leo Hickman, “How algorithms rule the world”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 26:
Following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point.
She went around the track fifty times.
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.
I stumbled along through the young pines and huckleberry bushes. Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path that, I cal'lated, might lead to the road I was hunting for. It twisted and turned, and, the first thing I knew, made a sudden bend around a bunch of bayberry scrub and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
But Richmond[…]appeared to lose himself in his own reflections. Some pickled crab, which he had not touched, had been removed with a damson pie; and his sister saw, peeping around the massive silver epergne that almost obscured him from her view, that he had eaten no more than a spoonful of that either. 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
Near; in the vicinity of; approximately.
I left my keys somewhere around here.
I left the house around 10 this morning.
I don't want you around me.
At or to various places within or throughout.
She went around the office and got everyone to sign the card.
Those teenagers like to hang around the mall.
The pages from the notebook were scattered around the room.
The estate agent showed me around the property.
Men that I knew around Wapatomac didn't wear high, shiny plug hats, nor yeller spring overcoats, nor carry canes with ivory heads as big as a catboat's anchor, as you might say. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter X, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
(figuratively) So as to avoid something.
Our product designs around the existing patents to avoid infringing them.
la circa (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · cmn 圍繞 /围绕 (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · kix ēmkō (near) · hu körül (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · gd timcheall (at various places in) · gd mu chuairt (near) · ka ირგვლივ (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ga i dtrátha (near) · fi ympärille (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · pt por volta de (near) · mk наоколу (at various places in) · is um (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ar حَوْلَ (following a path) · ar حَوْلَ (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ar قُرْبَ (near) · gd timcheall (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · hy շուրջ (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ru вблизи́ (near) · cmn 圍 /围 (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ko 주위에 (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · lv apkārt (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · gd mun cuairt (following a path) · cmn 近 (near) · sv kring (following a path) · nl rondom (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · sk naokolo (near) · cmn 圍著 /围著 (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · pl około (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ht otou (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · mk близу (near) · ka გარშემო (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · izh äärees (near) · ang ymbe (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · sa परि (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · liv immõr (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · gd mu chuairt (following a path) · es a eso de (near) · tpi nabaut (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · grc περί (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · fi pintaan (near) · mhn um (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · mk околу (following a path) · fr autour de (near) · pt em torno de (near) · ru каса́емо (сentred upon; surrounding; regarding) · ru вокру́г (following a path) · gd mu thimcheall (near) · ar بِالْقُرْب (near) · sk okolo (at various places in) · sk po (at various places in) · pt ao redor de (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · cmn 大約 /大约 (near) · cs okolo (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · gl derredor (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · es por (at various places in) · gd mun cuairt (at various places in) · sq sillem (gheg) (following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point) · ca passant (following a path) · de um (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · as চাৰিওফাল (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · sk okolo (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · wa aviè (near) · la circum (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ro împrejurul (following a path) · ru по пери́метру (following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point) · mk околу (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · it verso (near) · lv ap (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · gd timcheall (near) · gd mu thimcheall (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · fi ympäri (following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point) · tr etrafında (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · sv kring (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · be навако́л (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · sk okolo (following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point) · uk бі́ля (near) · sco aroond (near) · gd mu chuairt (at various places in) · ga um (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · fi kieppeillä (near) · ja …のまわり (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · dsb wokoło (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · it vicino (near) · fr autour de (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · hi ... के आस-पास (near) · be вако́л (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · gl arredor (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · gd timcheall (following a path) · sv runt (near) · wa viè (near) · es en contorno a/de (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · oc a l'entorn (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · pt perto de (near) · cmn 大概 (near) · uk навко́ло (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ast enderredor (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · es alrededor de (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ru вокру́г (following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point) · cmn 围着 (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · gd mun cuairt (near) · fr vers (near) · ca per (at various places in) · de etwa (near) · ru каса́тельно (сentred upon; surrounding; regarding) · sv runt (following a path) · arz حوالين (following a path) · fi ympäri (at various places in) · it attorno (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · oc entorn (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · gd mu thimcheall (at various places in) · sco roond (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · fi ympäri (following a path) · sk okolo (near) · ru вокру́г (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · nl om (following a path) · bg о́коло (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · nl rond (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · fr dans (at various places in) · et ümbruses (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · fi -lla (at various places in) · liv immar (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · es alrededor de (following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point) · fi suunnilleen (near) · el περί (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · nl omheen (following a path) · ru в обхо́д (following a path) · pt ao redor de (following a path) · fi lähelle (near) · be наво́кал (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · gd mun cuairt (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · acw حول (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · fi tienoilla (near) · sk okolo (following a path) · nl om (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · sv omkring (near) · de ungefähr (near) · gd mu chuairt (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ast alredor (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ru по (at various places in) · cs kolem (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · it intorno (following a path) · kix tám (near) · uk поблизу́ (near) · ast alredor de (following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point) · sq rrethinë (near) · gd mu thimcheall (following a path) · pt em volta de (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · pt em volta de (following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point) · nl langs (following a path) · gl ao redor (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · es alrededor de (near) · it in giro per (at various places in) · fi aikoihin (near) · sc intundu (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · la inter (at various places in) · he סָבִיב (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · hy շուրջը (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ro aproape de (near) · ast per (at various places in) · es alrededor de (following a path) · ca arreu de (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · fa دور (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ro în jurul (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · it intorno a (near) · et ümber (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · mk околу (near) · eo ĉirkaŭ (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · wa diviè (near) · fi noin (near) · uk навко́ло (following a path) · fr autour de (following a path) · sq rretherrotull (at various places in) · uz atrof (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · sq rrethim (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · pt por (at various places in) · bg о́коло (near) · pt em torno de (forming a circle or closed curve containing) · ru о́коло (near) · ca al voltant de (forming a circle or closed curve containing)
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”)).
Meanings
(not-comparable) So as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof.
High above, vultures circled around.
(not-comparable) So as to surround or be near.
There isn't another house for miles around.
Everybody please gather around.
(not-comparable) Nearly; approximately; about.
Around a thousand people attended.
An adult elephant weighs around five tons.
(not-comparable) From place to place.
Look around and see what you find.
Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady.[…]She looked around expectantly, and recognizing Mrs. Cooke's maid[…]Miss Thorn greeted her with a smile which greatly prepossessed us in her favor. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
There are rumors going around that the company is bankrupt.
We moved the furniture around in the living room.
Of all the transitions brought about on the Earth’s surface by temperature change, the melting of ice into water is the starkest. It is binary. And for the land beneath, the air above and the life around, it changes everything. 2013 May 11, “The climate of Tibet: Pole-land”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8835, page 80:
(not-comparable) From one state or condition to an opposite or very different one; with a metaphorical change in direction; bringing about awareness or agreement.
I didn't think he would ever like the new design, but eventually we brought him around.
The team wasn't doing well, but the new coach really turned things around.
He used to stay up late but his new girlfriend changed that around.
The patient was unconscious but the doctor brought him around quickly.
(not-comparable, qualifier:spin, usually, with turn) So as to partially or completely rotate; so as to face in the opposite direction.
Turn around at the end of this street.
She spun around a few times.
(not-comparable) Used with verbs to indicate repeated or continuous action, or in numerous locations or with numerous people.
When are you going to stop whoring around, find a nice girl, and give us grandchildren?
Shopping around can get you a better deal.
I asked around, and no-one really liked it.
(not-comparable) Used with certain verbs to suggest unproductive activity.
sit around, mess around, loaf around
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
arownd
alternative, obsolete
lexicographic
round
alternative
lexicographic
'round
alternative, contraction
lexicographic
ron
alternative
lexicographic
Deriveds
pass around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · feel around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · slap someone around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · knock around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · twat around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · footle around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · stand around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · putter around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · pal around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · rattle around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · jump around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · pass around (from place to place) · roll around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · poling around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · laze around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · squirrel around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · year-around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · smoke around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · thick around the middle (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · dick around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · wait around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · move around (from place to place) · push around (from place to place) · bum around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · kick around (from place to place) · around about (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · pitch around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · prat around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · money makes the world go around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · cast around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · fall around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · busy around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · bomb around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · wasp around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · futz around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · show around (from place to place) · shop around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · fool around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · bang around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · the other way around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · turn around one's finger (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · joke around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · piss around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · poke around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · talk around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · snootle around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · lie around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · wheel around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · fanny around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · sleep around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · look around (from place to place) · monkey around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · screw around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · root around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · yank around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · goof around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · around and around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · get around to (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · bandy around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · flash around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · tool around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · throw one's weight around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · sniff around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · mess around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · nose around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · ask around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · play around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · doss around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · bounce around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · arse around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · fiddle around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · cat around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · call around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · ferret around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · jack around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · you around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · mope around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · put around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · jerk around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · throw the bull around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · kid around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · smack around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · clown around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · dog around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · snoop around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · walk around (from place to place) · know one's way around (from place to place) · what comes around goes around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · whore around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · fart around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · priss around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · balls around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · lounge around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · mill around (from place to place) · potter around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · win around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · horse around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · louse around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · haul around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · muck around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · tiptoe around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · ring around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · work around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · slob around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · stick around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · boss around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · toss around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · faff around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · fuck around (indicating repeated or continuous action, or unproductive action) · throw money around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · rally around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · keep around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · go around in circles (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted)) · float around (Other terms and phrasal verbs with "around" (unsorted))
ru вокру́г (so as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof) · es alrededor de (nearly, about) · ru круго́м (so as to surround or be near) · ru кру́гом (so as to surround or be near) · ga timpeall (so as to surround or be near) · bg наоколо (so as to surround or be near) · de herum (so as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof) · de rund (nearly, about) · de herum (repeated or continuous action, or in numerous locations or with numerous people) · de herum (from one state or condition to an opposite or very different one) · ru туда́-сюда́ (from place to place) · fi ympärille (so as to surround or be near) · de um (from one state or condition to an opposite or very different one) · sk po (from place to place) · fi noin (nearly, about) · fi ympäri (so as to partially or completely rotate) · fi ympäri (so as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof) · dsb wokoło (so as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof) · fi ympäri (from place to place) · vo za (nearly, about) · de umher (from place to place) · de um (so as to partially or completely rotate) · sk okolo (from place to place) · fi piiriin (so as to surround or be near) · de ungefähr (nearly, about) · mi āwhio (so as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof) · ga timpeall (so as to partially or completely rotate) · ja くらい (nearly, about) · fi lähelle (so as to surround or be near) · fi ympäriinsä (from place to place) · ga thart (from place to place) · ru там-сям (repeated or continuous action, or in numerous locations or with numerous people) · ga timpeall (from place to place) · es por acá (from place to place) · de herum (so as to partially or completely rotate) · ru приблизи́тельно (nearly, about) · es rondar (nearly, about) · de herum (from place to place) · fi paikasta paikkaan (from place to place) · fi likimain (nearly, about) · ru по кру́гу (so as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof) · fi ympärille (from place to place) · es por allí (from place to place) · fi tienoilla (nearly, about) · ru о́коло (nearly, about) · ru вокру́г (so as to surround or be near) · ru приме́рно (nearly, about) · ru вокру́г (so as to partially or completely rotate) · fi paikasta toiseen (from place to place) · fi liki (so as to surround or be near) · fi ympäri (from one state or condition to an opposite or very different one) · dsb wokoło (so as to surround or be near) · dsb wokoło (so as to partially or completely rotate) · de herum (so as to surround or be near) · es por ahí (from place to place) · fi ympärillä (so as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof) · fi suunnilleen (nearly, about) · ru кру́гом (so as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof)