Around

//əˈɹaʊnd// adj, adv, prep, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Present in the vicinity. informal, not-comparable, predicative

    "Is Clare around today?"

  2. 2
    Alive; existing. informal, not-comparable, predicative

    "The record store on Main Street? Yes, it's still around."

Adverb
  1. 1
    So as to form a circle or trace a circular path, or approximation thereof. not-comparable

    "High above, vultures circled around."

  2. 2
    So as to surround or be near. not-comparable

    "Everybody please gather around."

  3. 3
    Nearly; approximately; about. not-comparable

    "Around a thousand people attended."

  4. 4
    From place to place. not-comparable

    "There are rumors going around that the company is bankrupt."

  5. 5
    From one state or condition to an opposite or very different one; with a metaphorical change in direction; bringing about awareness or agreement. not-comparable

    "The team wasn't doing well, but the new coach really turned things around."

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    So as to partially or completely rotate; so as to face in the opposite direction. not-comparable, usually

    "Turn around at the end of this street."

  2. 7
    Used with verbs to indicate repeated or continuous action, or in numerous locations or with numerous people. not-comparable

    "I asked around, and no-one really liked it."

  3. 8
    Used with certain verbs to suggest unproductive activity. not-comparable

    "sit around, mess around, loaf around"

Adverb
  1. 1
    (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct wordnet
  2. 2
    in circumference wordnet
  3. 3
    in the area or vicinity wordnet
  4. 4
    from beginning to end; throughout wordnet
  5. 5
    by a circular or circuitous route wordnet
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  1. 6
    in a circle or circular motion wordnet
  2. 7
    all around or on all sides wordnet
  3. 8
    to a particular destination either specified or understood wordnet
  4. 9
    in or to a reversed position or direction wordnet
  5. 10
    used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction wordnet
Preposition
  1. 1
    Forming a circle or closed curve containing (something).

    "She wore a gold chain around her neck."

  2. 2
    Centred upon; surrounding; regarding.

    "We could use some clarification around the new rules."

  3. 3
    Following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point.

    "We walked around the football field."

  4. 4
    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."

  5. 5
    Near; in the vicinity of.

    "I left my keys somewhere around here."

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    At or to various places within or throughout.

    "The pages from the notebook were scattered around the room."

Etymology

Etymology 1

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”)).

Etymology 2

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”)).

Etymology 3

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”)).

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