Meaning of “round” in the English Dictionary

English
Contents

"round" in English

See all translations

roundpreposition, adverb

uk ​ /raʊnd/ /raʊnd/ mainly UK US usually around

round preposition, adverb (AROUND)

A2 in a circular direction or position; around:

The moon goes round the earth.
We ran round (the outside of the house) to the back, looking for the dog.
The idea has been going round and round in my head all day (= I can't stop thinking about it).
When one engine stopped, we had to turn round (= turn to face the opposite direction) and fly home.
He tried to go round the keeper (= move with the football past a goalkeeper) but was forced wide.
See also
theatre in the round

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

round preposition, adverb (IN ALL PARTS)

B1 in every part of a place, or in various parts of a place:

The landlord showed me round (the house).
I had to go all round town to find a hotel that was open.
This virus has been going round (the school) (= many people have had it) .

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

round preposition, adverb (SURROUNDING)

A2 on all or some sides of something:

We sat round the fire.
The house has trees all round.
The pyramid is 50 metres high and 100 metres round (the base).
Everyone for a mile round (= in the area) heard the explosion.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

round preposition, adverb (DIRECTION)

A2 in a particular direction:

The garden is round the back (of the house).
I used to live round (= near) here when I was a child.
You must come round (to my house) sometime soon.
UK not standard We're going round (= to) the pub for a quick drink.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Grammar

Around or round?Around and round are prepositions or adverbs. We use around and round when we refer to movements in circles or from one place to another. Around and round can both be used. Around is more common in American English. Round is a little more common in speaking: …

Idiom(s)

right/wrong way round
round about
round and round
round the corner
way round

roundadjective

uk ​ /raʊnd/ us ​ /raʊnd/

round adjective (CIRCULAR)

A2 shaped like a ball or circle, or curved:

Tennis balls and oranges are round.
a round hole/stone/table/window
a round face
round eyes

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

round adjective (COMPLETE)

› (of a number) whole or complete; given to the nearest 1, 10, 100, etc. and not as exact amounts:

2.8 to the nearest round number is 3.
"I've got 95 bottles here for you." "Could you make it a round hundred, please?"

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

roundnoun [ C ]

uk ​ /raʊnd/ us ​ /raʊnd/

round noun [ C ] (GROUP)

C2 a number of things or group of events:

Russia and America will hold another round of talks next month.
When we were young life was just one long round of parties/pleasure.

C2 drinks that you buy for a group of people:

It's your turn to buy a round.
He bought a round of drinks to say thank you.

› UK a single slice of toast, or a sandwich

› UK US route a set of regular visits that you make to a number of places or people, especially in order to take products as part of your job:

He has a milk/paper round.

› specialized music a song for several singers, who begin singing one after the other at various points in the song

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

round noun [ C ] (BULLET)

› a bullet or other single piece of ammunition:

The soldiers had only 20 rounds left.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Idiom(s)

the daily round
go/do the rounds
make/do the rounds
on your rounds
round of applause

roundverb [ T ]

uk ​ /raʊnd/ us ​ /raʊnd/

Phrasal verb(s)

round sth down
round sth off
round on sb/sth
round sth out
round sth/sb up
round sth up

(Definition of “round” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"round" in American English

See all translations

roundadjective

us ​ /rɑʊnd/

round adjective (CIRCULAR)

› [ -er/-est only ] shaped like a circle or having a surface like part of a ball:

They sat at a round table.
She held up a round mirror.
Carlos was a round-cheeked boy.

round adjective (APPROXIMATE)

› [ not gradable ] (of a number) not exact but approximate, and ending in zero:

In round numbers, about three million tourists visit each year.

Idiom(s)

round and round
round the clock

roundverb [ T ]

us ​ /rɑʊnd/

round verb [ T ] (MOVE AROUND)

› to go around something and arrive on the other side:

The car rounded the corner and stopped in front of the house.

Phrasal verb(s)

round out something
round up something/someone

roundnoun [ C ]

us ​ /rɑʊnd/

round noun [ C ] (SINGLE EVENT)

› a single event or a small group of similar events that are part of a larger series of events:

The first round of negotiations got nowhere.

› In many sports, a round is a stage in a competition:

They lost in the first round of the tournament.

› In golf, a round is a complete game.

› In boxing, a round is one of the periods during which the competitors fight.

round of applause

› A round of applause is a period of clapping to show approval:

Let’s give the band a nice round of applause.
round (of drinks)

› A round (of drinks) is a drink for each person in a group.

round noun [ C ] (BULLET)

› a bullet or other piece of ammunition (= something that can be shot from a weapon or exploded):

They fired several rounds, then fled.

roundadverb

us ​ /rɑʊnd/

round adverb (MOVE AROUND)

› around

(Definition of “round” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

"round" in Business English

See all translations

roundadjective [ before noun ]

uk ​ /raʊnd/ us ​

› used to describe a number that is given to the nearest 1, 10, 100, etc. and not as an exact amount:

2.8 to the nearest a round number is 3.
In round figures, he earns $80,000.

roundnoun [ C ]

uk ​ /raʊnd/ us ​

› a group of events:

The EU will hold another round of talks next month.
around of meetings
The school building programme has been stopped in the latest round of cuts.

› also route a set of regular visits that you make to a number of places or people, especially in order to take products as part of your job:

a milk/paper round

See also

the milk round

(Definition of “round” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of “round”
 
Need a translator?

Translator tool

Get a quick, free translation!

What is the pronunciation of round?
Browse