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Definition of round adverb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

round

adverb
 
 
/raʊnd/
 
/raʊnd/
(especially British English)
(North American English usually around)
For the special uses of round in phrasal verbs, look at the verb entries. For example, the meaning of come round to something is given in the phrasal verb section of the entry for come.Idioms
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  1.  
     moving in a circle
    • Everybody joins hands and dances round.
    • How do you make the wheels go round?
    • The children were spinning round and round.
    • (figurative) The thought kept going round and round in her head.
    • Love makes the world go round.
    see also merry-go-round
  2.  
     measuring or marking the edge or outside of something
    • a young tree measuring only 18 inches round
    • They've built a high fence all round to keep intruders out.
  3.  
     on all sides of somebody/something
    • A large crowd had gathered round to watch.
  4.  
     at various places in an area
    • People stood round waiting for something to happen.
  5.  
     in a circle or curve to face another way or the opposite way
    • He turned the car round and drove back again.
    • She looked round at the sound of his voice.
    • Harvey spun round to face him.
  6.  
     to the other side of something
    • We walked round to the back of the house.
    • The road's blocked—you'll have to drive the long way round.
  7.  
     from one place, person, etc. to another
    • They've moved all the furniture round.
    • He went round interviewing people about local traditions.
    • Pass the biscuits round.
    • Have we enough cups to go round?
    • Rumours are going round that she's pregnant again.
  8.  
    (informal) to or at a particular place, especially where somebody lives
    • I'll be round in an hour.
    • We've invited the Frasers round this evening.
    • Edward loved her cooking and regularly came round to supper.
    Which Word? around / round / aboutaround / round / about
    • Around and round can often be used with the same meaning in British English, though around is more formal:
      • The earth goes round/​around the sun.
      • They live round/​around the corner.
      • We travelled round/​around India.
      • She turned round/​around when I came in.
      In North American English only around can be used in these meanings.
    • Around, round and about can also sometimes be used with the same meaning in British English:
      • The kids were running around/​round/​about outside.
      • I’ve been waiting around/​round/​about to see her all day.
      In North American English only around can be used in these meanings. About or around can be used in both British English and North American English to mean ‘approximately’:
      • We left around/​about 8 o’clock.
    9. Word OriginMiddle English: from the Old French stem round-, from a variant of Latin rotundus ‘rotund’.
Idioms
(the) next, first, second, etc. time round
  1. on the next, first, etc. occasion that the same thing happens
    • He repeated none of the errors he'd made first time round.
    • This time round it was not so easy.
round about
  1. approximately
    • We're leaving round about ten.
    • A new roof will cost round about £3 000.
  2. in the area near a place
    • in Oxford and the villages round about
See round in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee round in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: round

Nearby words

aspiration
noun
 
 
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