Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1000-1100
Language: Old French
Origin: cercle, from Latin circulus, from circus; CIRCUS

circle

1 noun
     
Related topics: Theatre
cir‧cle1 S2 W2 [countable]
1

shape

a completely round shape, like the letter O:
Draw a circle 10cm in diameter.
Cut the pastry into circles.
2

arranged in circle

a group of people or things arranged in the shape of a circle:
The children stood round in a circle.
circle of
a circle of chairs
3

group of people

a group of people who know each other and meet regularly, or who have similar interests or jobs
circle of
a circle of friends
political/legal/literary etc circles
He's well-known in fashionable circles.
Johnson was part of the president's inner circle (=the people who have the most influence).
4

theatre

British EnglishAPT the upper floor of a theatre, that has seats arranged in curved rows [= balcony American English]
5

go/run around in circles

to think or argue about something without deciding anything or making progress
6

come/go full circle

also turn full circle British English to end in the same situation in which you began, even though there have been changes in the time in between:
Sooner or later, fashion comes full circle.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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