around
English
Alternative forms
- arownd (obsolete)
Etymology
From Middle English around, arounde, from a- (from Old English a- (“on, at”)) + Middle English round (“circle, round”), equivalent to a- + round. Cognate with Scots aroond, aroon (“around”). Displaced earlier Middle English umbe, embe (“around”) (from Old English ymbe (“around”)). See umbe.
Pronunciation
- (UK, US) IPA: /əˈɹaʊnd/, X-SAMPA: /@"raUnd/
- (US) IPA: /əˈɹæwnd/
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Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -aʊnd
- Hyphenation: a‧round
Preposition
around
- Defining a circle or closed curve containing a thing.
- I planted a row of lillies around the statue.
- The jackals began to gather around [someone or something].
- Following the perimeter of a specified area and returning to the starting point.
- We walked around the football field.
- She went around the track fifty times.
- 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 continued straight.
- (of distance, time) Near; in the vicinity of.
- I left my keys somewhere around here.
- I left the house around 10 this morning.
- There isn't another house here for miles around.
- I'll see you around [the neighbourhood, etc.].
- At various places in.
- The pages from the notebook were scattered around the room.
- Those teenagers like to hang around the mall.
Derived terms
Derived terms
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Translations
defining a circle or closed curve containing
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following a path
near
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at various places in
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Translations to be checked
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Adjective
around (not comparable)
- (informal, with the verb "to be") Alive; existing.
- The record store on Main Street? Yes, it's still around.
- A: How is old Bob? I heard that his health is failing.
- B: Oh, he's still around. He's feeling better now.
Derived terms
Translations
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
Adverb
around (not comparable)
- Generally.
- From place to place, or from one place to another
- There are rumors going around that Will is dead.
- He's running around trying to stop the rumors from spreading.
- Look around and see what you find.
- bring around
- come around
- (with turn, spin, etc.) Partially or completely rotated, including to face in the opposite direction.
- Turn around at the end of this street.
- She spun around a few times.
Derived terms
generally
from place to place
Translations
in a circular formation
along the edges; on every side, in all directions
in random places; aimlessly, with no real direction
with circular motion; coming back to a particular place
nearby, in the area